






"W. Sioberl .KHisher . 20 . Great MarQiorOTiglL Streeb. 



REVELATIONS 



or 



HUNGARY; 



LEAVES FROM THE DIARY OF AN AUSTRIAN OFFICER WHO 
SERVED DURING THE 

LATE CAMPAIGN IN THAT COUNTRY. 



BY 

THE BARON PROCHAZKA. 



WITH A MEMOIR OF KOSSUTH. 



LONDON : 
WILLIAM SHOBERL, PUBLISHER, 

20, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 
1851. 



LONDON : 

JV1YERS AND CO., PRINTERS, 37, KING STREET, 

COVENT GARDEN. 



35 



PREFACE. 



The following pages are (with the excep- 
tion of Kossuth's Memoirs) chiefly extracts 
from a diary kept by the author during the 
late Hungarian Campaign, throughout which, 
as an officer in the Austrian Army, he took 
an active part. This diary, as it may be 
readily inferred, was written in German, 
but without any view to publication. 

The permission to translate this little 
work from the inedited original just referred 
to, was therefore conceded to me with some 
""luctance on the part of the writer, who 
ared that his narrative might not be con- 
sidered to possess sufficient importance to 
entitle it to be placed before the public eye. 

The interest which recent events in Hun- 
gary have, however, awakened, not only in 
England but in every part of the civilized 
world, has encouraged me (the translator) 
to put forth this volume of facts, the more 
particularly since, up to the present moment, 






IV PREFACE. 

scarcely any publication (with the exception 
of a little work, entitled " Scenes of the 
Civil War in Hungary") has issued from the 
press on the side of loyalty. Thus, an impe- 
netrable veil may still be said to hang over 
the causes to which the late sanguinary 
contest in Hungary may be traced. 

It is to be hoped, however, that time will 
reveal the truth, and prove the utter falsity 
of the dark charges which have been pre- 
ferred against the Austrian Army, and which 
might have tended to tarnish its imperish- 
able lustre and honour, if the source from 
which they emanated were not defiled. Such 
statements consequently deserve to be 
treated rather with dignified contempt than 
to be honoured by a notice which would be 
conferring too great a distinction on the 
calumniators in question. 

If I have been tempted to add to the diary 
a short biographical sketch of Kossuth — -" the 
idol of the hour" — it is not that I, like his 
worshippers, deem him worthy of mention, 
or so important a personage as democrats 



PREFACE. V 

make him, but simply because I could not 
resist availing myself of the opportunity 
offered, to lay before the British public a 
few facts and particulars which may, in all 
probability, have escaped the memory of those 
who write in his defence. 

Under these circumstances, my narrative 
must naturally vary a little from the accounts 
given by Kossuth's enthusiastic admirers; 
and, although I am fully aware that my 
statements may be received in a very dif- 
ferent manner from those put forth by the 
" advocates of rebellion ;" and am, therefore, 
quite prepared to be severely censured by 
partizans of the Kossuth faction, I have, 
nevertheless, thrown down the gauntlet, and 
shall consider myself amply rewarded, if I 
succeed in shedding one ray of light upon a 
subject over which so much darkness and 
mystery have hitherto prevailed. 

But though this volume may not be well 
received by those who have favoured the 
cause of the Hungarian rebels, I have been 
taught to believe from my youth upwards, 



VI PKEEACE. 

that in England alone, men may speak their 
minds with impunity; and that the love o^ 
justice and fair play, for which the English 
are proverbial, will induce them, after all 
they have heard and read in defamation of 
the Austrian character, to hear the other side 
of the question. " Audi alteram partem" is 
indeed a maxim, without which no just and 
true judgment of any matter can be arrived 
at. I take it for granted, that a loyal Aus- 
trian may not only be permitted to express 
his opinion as well as a rebel, but may also 
be allowed to place a little truth in pleasing 
relief, beside the many fictions with which 
the British public have been, from time to 
time, so indiscriminately supplied, and there- 
by imposed upon. 

I claim the indulgence of my readers, if, 
as an enthusiast in the cause of loyalty and 
patriotism, I have attached too great an im- 
portance to the following " Revelations" 
relative to the late civil war in Hungary. 

L. H. P. 

London, November 3rd, 1850. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER 1. 

Cracow as a Garrison — Anxiety of the Troops in general to 
take an active part in the Italian Campaign— -Enthu- 
siasm of the Regiment, on receiving orders to join the 
Army in Hungary — My disappointment — Outbreak of a 
Revolution in the Mining Districts . . 1 



CHAPTER II. 

Arrival at Tavorzno — Arrest of two Ringleaders — Attempt 
to liberate them on the part of the Insurgents — Death of 
a gens d'arme — A Polish Jew — The Jew's objection to 
convey the dead body of the gens d'arme to Tavorzno — 
Disloyalty of the Civil Authorities — My application for 
a Reinforcement of Troops — Attack on a Public-house 
— Skirmish at Guazalla — Address to the Authorities — 
Last Measures — Return to Cracow -An interview with 
two Ladies ...... 21 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 

Departure from Cracow — March to Priviczna — -Meeting 
with two Imperial Couriers — Count Szirmay — Fee lings 
of the Peasantry —Entry into Hungary — Arrival at 
Lublo — Disloyalty of the Inhabitants — Kossuth's Ma- 
noeuvres to win Proselytes to his cause — Attempt to 
Seduce my Troops — Arrest of Two Citizens — Hospita- 
lity of the Budlein Inhabitants — Arrival at Kasemark — 
Mysterious Warnings — Unexpected Meeting with Sol- 
diers of the Regiment — Their Complaints against the 
Inhabitants — Interview with the Burgermeister — His 
Arrest — Encampment — The Deputations — The Alarm — 
Liberality on the part of the Inhabitants towards our 

Troops in the Distribution of Wine — Baroness W 

An Old Acquaintance — Important Information . 36 

CHAPTER IV. 

Retreat to Winschensdorf — Arrival at that place -The 
Landlord and his Bill arouse my suspicions — Ap- 
proach of the Enemy— Removal of the baggage — Intre- 
pidity of my servants — Pursuit by three Hussars — The 
baggage and the Government money — The two pri- 
soners — Their attempt to escape, and consequent death 

— A sharp Skirmish — Count S wounded — His loyalty 

— The Countess S My horse is shot — Narrow escape 

from being killed myself — Bad leadership on the part of 
the Magyars — Cruelty of the Hungarians towards their 

prisoners — Count C 's dreadful death — Gorgey' 

kindness to General Baron Goty — General Baron Goty 
and Captain Baron Goty's death — The Dispatch — My 
retreat to Altendorf — My position at Altendorf and 



CONTENTS. IX 

Szomovce — The Enemy's approach — I receive Orders to 
defend the Pass — Preparations to receive the Enemy — 
Treachery of the Mayor of Altendorf — Salutation 
between the Chief of the Guerilla Bands and myself — 
The Enemy's attack — Skirmish at Szomovce — Retreat of 

the enemy — Arrival of Captain H 's Guide to the 

Russian Corps, under the Command of General Baron 
Saas — My Departure from Szomovce — The Estafette — 

Counter Orders — My application to General Baron S 

— His Reply — I receive definite Orders to join the Bri- 
gade of General Baron Bario — Arrival in Sandee — Un- 
expected Meeting with Count S A Dinner-Party — 

Introduction to several Hungarians — Their Complaints 
against Kossuth — I join my Division at Sucho . 59 



CHAPTER V. 

The Cossack Troops — The Russian Cavalry — Seibusch — 
A Day's Gaiety — A Night's Bivouac at Czaga — Arrival 
at the Camp near Budatin — The Castle of Budatin — 
Attack on the Castle — Its Defence and Destruction — 
Sillein — The Cholera — Arrival of Two Cossacks at the 
Camp — Reconnoitring Expedition — A Dinner Party of 
Thirteen — Scenes in the Camp at Budatin — My de- 
parture ..... 87 



CHAPTER VI. 

Bicse — Trentschin — General Baron Benedek — Ruins of 
Trents chin— The Drathbinders — Their Habits, Manners, 
and Customs — Arrival at Tyrnau — Feldzeugmeister 
Baron Haynau — An agreeable Surprise — Gorgey's at- 
tempt to break through the line of the Waag — Pered 



X CONTENTS. 

and Kiraly-New are taken by our troops — The enemy's 
retreat to Negged — March to Presburg, and thence to 
Altendorf— F. M. S. Count Schlick — I join ray regiment 
at Croatich Kimling . . . . 112 

CHAPTER VII. 

Arrival of the Emperor at the Camp — Distribution of Me- 
dals — Position of the Allied Annies, and of the Insur- 
gent Forces — Strength of the Insurgent Army— The 
Chaplain's blessing — Battle of Raab— The Austrians 
occupy the outposts of St. Iwan — A Visit to the Village 
- March towards Gbngos— Camp at St. Janos— Battle 
under the walls of Comorn — Occupation of the wood 
between Acs and Comorn — Position of the Troops —A 
Brother's Revenge — The Soldier's Death-bed — The cho- 
lera — Battle of Acs — -Lieutenant Colonel B wounded 

— The Author has a narrow escape — He takes the com- 
mand of the Battalion — Another Miraculous Escape — 

Dreadful fate of a Corporal — Death of Lieutenant 

Bravery of the Austrian Troops — Feelings of the Army 
towards his Majesty — The Insurgent Leaders' last remedy 
to revive the ardour of their Troops — Death of an 
Officer in the Emperor's suite — His Majesty's Aid-de- 
camp is wounded . . . . 136 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Object of G-orgey as respects the battle fought on the 1 1th — 
Klapka in command of the fortress of Comorn — March 
to Pesth — Dreadful accident to a soldier — The Author 
falls from his horse — Arrival at Puszta Torvort — March 
to Bia — Entry into Pesth — Devastation of Pesth and 
Ofen — Heroic defence of Ofen — Bombardment of the 



CONTENTS. XI 

fortress — Deaths of General Hentz'i and Captain Schroder 
— Colonel Alnock takes the command — The fall of Ofen 
— Fearful barbarities committed by the insurgent troops 
— Colonel Alnock — Massacre of four hundred men and 
twenty officers by the insurgents on their entry into Ofen 
— The camp at Kakos — Hardships endured by the troops 
— Destruction of the wells — Fata morgana — Operations 
of the Austrian army — The enemy's retreat to Szegedin, 
which is taken by our troops — The enemy's retreat to 
Szoreg, which is taken by assault — March to Nagy St. 
Miklos 161 



CHAPTEK IX. 

St. Miklos — Kindness of the Inhabitants — Their Aversion 
to Magyarism — Cruelty of the Hungarians — Destruction 
of a Village by the Insurgents — Heart-rending Scenes — 
The Church of St. Miklos— The Sexton's Account— The 
Casino — The Next Morning — My Host's Liberality — My 
Embarrassment — My Landlord's Daughter — Perjanos — 
Szekusit- - Arrival of a Kussian Colonel — An Impromptu 
— Dance — A Dream — Pursuit of the Enemy towards 
Temeswar — Defence of that place — Hardships endured 
by the Garrison — F. M. L. Baron Kinkowina — The 
Relief of Temeswar— A Deathblow to the Insurgents 
— Kossuth resigns . . . . 183 



CHAPTER X. 

Gorgey's Surrender at Villagos — Respective Position of 
the Allied Imperial Forces and the Insurgent Army, 
previously to the Surrender at Villagos — Position of 
Arad at the Outbreak of the Revolution — Our Brigade 



Xll CONTENTS. 

encamps before Arad — Negotiations relative to the 
Surrender of the Fortress — The Last Outpost Skirmish 
— Capitulation of Arad — Bern and Guy on-— The different 
Insurgent Corps lay down their Arms — Count Vecsay 
and his Troops — Departure of the Leaders of the Rebel- 
lion for Turkey — General Panintin — Valour of the 
Russian Troops — Surrender of Peterwardein — The 
Austro -Russian Troops before Comorn — The Capitu- 
lation of Comorn — Prince Paskiewitch and F. Z M. 
Baron Haynau — Arrival of Gorgey's Corps at Arad — 
Visit to the Prisoners' Camp — Captain M. — Madame M. 
— Condition of the Insurgent Troops — Departure from 
Arad — Arrival in Grosswardein — Baron B. — The Catho- 
lic Bishop — Keszthely . . . 205 



Memoir of Kossuth .... 233 



*** F. M. L., in the course of this volume, signifies 
Field-Marshal-Lieutenant, and F. Z. M., Fieldzensmeister, 
or Master of the Ordnance. 



THE 



CAMPAIGN IN HUNGARY 



CHAPTER I. 



Cracow as a Garrison — Anxiety of the Troops in general to 
take an active part in the Italian Campaign— Enthu- 
siasm of the Regiment, on receiving orders to join the 
Army in Hungary — My disappointment — Outbreak of a 
Revolution in the Mining Districts. 

The years 1848 and 1849 are an epoch of such 
importance in the history of Austria, and more 
particularly in the annals of the Austrian Army, 
that it will seem quite natural if we officers found 
it difficult to await the moment which would call 
us from the monotony of a garrison life to the 
scene of war, in order that each might share the 
laurels of a loyal and devoted army, and shed the 
last drop of his blood in defence of the monarchy, 
shaken to its very foundation by the intrigues of 
a democratic faction. 

B 



% THE CAMPAIGN 

My regiment (Bohemian infantry) happened to 
be one of those which was sent from Bohemia to 
Poland, in the year 1846 ; since which time, Cra- 
cow had been our sole quarters, to our great dis- 
appointment. It has ever been the lot of Gallicia, 
but more especially of late years, to be universally 
dreaded by the army as their quarters, and many 
would prefer being stationed in a Bohemian vil- 
lage, rather than in a Gallician city. This aversion 
to a country which boasts of magnificent scenery, 
and is highly favoured by nature in many respects, 
may be attributed to the want of society, and an 
absence of cleanliness and comfort, which was 
perhaps less felt in Cracow itself, the abode of 
some of the most ancient Polish families, and 
which still bears traces of its past grandeur. 

The historical interest which the former resi- 
dence of Poland's kings will ever possess, and the 
splendid scenery around, render it one of the most 
agreeable quarters, which may yet become the 
best in Gallicia; not even excepting Lemberg, 
provided that the social comforts increase. But, 
at the period of my being quartered there, we 
were thrown completely on our own resources, 
and the gap existing in society previously to 1846, 



IN HUNGARY. 3 

almost throughout Poland, was not likely to be 
improved by the ill- concealed animosity of the 
inhabitants towards us — who forgot that Cracow 
with its territory, might be a free-state still, but 
for their own folly. It would appear incredible, 
if I were to give an account of the eccentric, 
ludicrous, and sometimes unrefined demonstrations 
of hatred, which even some of the fair sex evinced 
towards us on our occasional meetings. Amused 
at first, we soon became indifferent ; and, when 
the inhabitants of Cracow saw that neither France 
nor England meant to do more than to express a 
polite regret at their deserved misfortunes, and 
that the armies, which the meetings, speeches, and 
debates held in England and France, seemed to 
promise, dwindled down to a mere warfare of 
words, their hatred assumed a milder form — the 
promenades were more frequented, — our splendid 
military bands were listened to with evident 
delight —the ladies' tongues were restrained within 
proper boundaries, and the casual glances of anger 
bestowed on us by mothers, whose pretty 
daughters did not think the Austrian officers such 
savages as they had been represented to them, 
alone reminded us that we were unwelcome in- 
truders. 

b 2 



4 THE CAMPAIGN 

Fascinating as Polish women generally are, we 
yet kept aloof from them, with very few excep- 
tions, for all amicable relations between the 
military and the Polish gentry were interrupted 
by the unfortunate rebellion of 1846; and we 
knew that, notwithstanding the sweet smiles 
lavished on us, hatred yet dwelt in their hearts ; 
whilst we could hardly be expected to indulge in 
an excess of good feeling towards the gentry of 
Gallicia, who, in many parts, had looked forward 
with peculiar delight to the pleasure of hanging 
or stabbing us in the midst of a Mazurka. 

The garrison of Cracow being quite strong 
enough to make us independent of their society, 
we established a casino exclusively for ourselves ; 
and, with the exception of the young unmarried 
officers, who felt the dearth of ladies extremely 
on the occasion of a dance, we became accus- 
tomed to our garrison, which was converted into a 
military colony, patiently awaiting the day which 
would bring us the route to a more friendly part 
of the Austrian dominions, when the democratic 
spirit, so openly manifesting itself throughout 
Europe, threatened to disturb our peaceful life. 

Those persons must have been blind, who did 



IN HUNGARY. 5 

not see that for years past, democracy was under- 
mining the quietude of Europe. The torch of 
rebellion, ignited in France, was spreading with 
the rapidity of lightning, and threatened to con- 
sume Europe. Austria's ruin, in particular, was 
universally predicted. Every other sovereign, 
it was said, had a chance, except the Emperor 
of Austria, whose empire was compared to a 
piece of Mosaic, which must crumble to pieces 
in the hands of the demagogues. We listened 
with disdain to such assertions, for if we dwelt 
on the possibility of a general rising, in remem- 
bering the different nationalities that compose 
Austria, it was but for a moment. Austria's 
downfall can never be accomplished while her 
army stands ; but, when the short-lived rebellion 
in Vienna was followed immediately by that of 
Lombardy, we felt that the hour of trial had 
indeed struck for Austria, which had been pio- 
phesied by so many, for the liberal constitution 
granted, extending equal privileges to all the 
different states of Austria, was far from satisfying 
the malcontents. 

Democratic emissaries of all nations were 
busily employed in almost every town of the 



6 THE CAMPAIGN 

empire, exciting that class of abandoned, desperate 
men with which great cities more or less abound, 
to revolt. The people, excited to delirium by 
concessions they had obtained, thirsted for still 
further indulgences. It soon became obvious 
that the blood shed in the streets of Vienna and 
Milan was only the commencement of difficulties; 
and so it proved, for the perfidious Charles Albert 
invaded the plains of Lombardy to gratify his am- 
bition, and to please the Republicans, in whose 
hands he was a mere puppet. 

It was generally presumed that the war in Italy 
would not be of any duration, because the invasion 
of Charles Albert was an aggression so flagrantly 
unjust, that it demanded the censure of England 
and France, the more so, since, if Austria had in- 
vaded Piedmont, it would have been considered 
a casus belli by the Allied Powers. We were, 
therefore, quite unprepared to find that the King 
of Sardinia's treachery towards Austria was not 
only tolerated but favoured by those who would 
have been the first to load us with execrations if 
we had been the aggressive party. 

It was a trying moment to be compelled to 
remain in Poland, whilst our comrades were 



IN HUNGARY. 7 

fighting in Italy for the just cause. It was mor- 
tifying to be deprived of the honour of serving 
under General Radetzky, the idol of our army, 
and of the hope of crushing in the dust the pride 
of the unfortunate Prince, whose black ingratitude 
and glaring dishonesty towards Austria excited 
our indignation to the highest degree, and had 
duty and honour not bade us bide our time, we 
had deserted, en masse, to Radetzky's banner. 

Where is the soldier who does not look forward 
with almost intoxicating delight to the prospect 
of a war which may give him an opportunity of 
distinguishing himself, and, at the same time, of 
serving his country effectually, which in peace he 
does only nominally ; of drawing with his feeble 
arm the sword that is to uphold and to defend the 
rights of his sovereign, and which, with its blood- 
stained point, traces the triumph or defeat of a 
nation in history ? The soldier may have ties 
sweet and sacred ; but, in the moment when the 
bugle of war sounds, those ties, however sweet 
they may be, are rent asunder by the importance 
and sacredness of the duty which calls him perhaps 
to death. Yet no sadness mingles in parting 
from those that are dear to us, albeit a feeling 



8 THE CAMPAIGN 

steals over us, that we may be destined never to 
see those more whom we then press to the heart, 
beating with anxiety to be at the theatre of war. 
From the moment that Austria's difficulties 
commenced, there was a change in our monoto- 
nous course of life. The frivolous pursuits by 
which we had whiled away many a tedious hour 
ceased to possess any charm for us. Our superior 
officers and generals met us with the gravity 
called forth by stirring events ; whilst our young 
officers, wild with joy, spoke of joining the army 
in Italy as volunteers ; all was excitement and 
expectation, as to what news the next day's post 
might bring. The boudoir and the domestic 
hearth alike lost their attractions for those who 
could contemplate nought else than the difficulties 
and perils by which their comrades were sur- 
rounded in Italy. 

The insulting joy testified by the inhabitants 
at the outbreak of the w r ar, their exultation at 
Sardinia's triumphs, and our defeats, did not es- 
cape our notice. We knew what we had to ex- 
pect ; and, as each post prepared us for still 
greater events, we were on the qui vive. A sus- 
picion flashed across the minds of many with re- 



IN HUNGARY. 9 

gard to the army's remaining loyal, for all those 
unacquainted with the spirit of the troops, 
thought that, owing to the different nationalities 
which compose the Austrian army, it might not 
prove unlikely that each nation would hold with 
the rebels of their respective countries. There 
never was a more erroneous supposition ; and 
those who built their hopes on our disloyalty, 
had built on sand. We were as one man, one 
mind, and one soul, from the general to the 
private, from the prince to the commoner, and 
when we could no longer conceal from ourselves 
that the safety of the throne, and the welfare of 
our country were at stake, we swore to protect 
the rights of our sovereign, and to save our 
country, or fall under its ruins. 

When 500,000 men are ready to shed the last 
drop of their blood for their sovereign; when 
they enter the field with such indescribable en- 
thusiasm, such unequalled spirit and devotion, as 
those evinced by the Austrian army in 1848 and 
1849, the downfall of a monarchy cannot easily 
be accomplished. 

In defending the throne and the integrity of 
the empire with our heart's blood, we only ful- 

B 3 



10 THE CAMPAIGN 

filled our duty : and although death to the dis- 
honoured soldier who deserts his colours, was 
our motto, at the same time it must be acknow- 
ledged, that steadfast loyalty and deep devotion 
to the sovereign could alone inspire us with that 
death-defying courage which caused the private, 
like the officers, to rush on with the cry of " God 
save the Emperor, or let us perish." If our 
gracious sovereign had perjured himself, or were 
a despotic tyrant ; if, in fact, his Majesty had 
been all that upstart adventurers and arrant trai- 
tors proclaimed him to be, the army could no 
longer honour, nor the peasantry stand up for, 
their Emperor. 

Base calumnies may yet be published with re- 
gard to recent events in Austria, by those who 
have perjured themselves. But there are facts, 
which history will record long after we, as well as 
the calumniators of Austria, have ceased to exist, 
which will justify our country and our sovereign, 
and cast back upon the slanderers the vile impu- 
tations they have brought against us, and the 
crimes with which they would fain have charged 
us. The attachment of the rural population 
throughout the Austrian empire during her trials, 



IN HUNGARY. 11 

and the unequalled devotion of the army (with 
but few exceptions) prove how unfounded is the 
accusation of tyranny and despotism which has 
been preferred against Austria by her enemies. 

I shall pass over the uninteresting period 
during which we were in a constant state of ex- 
citement, for every day brought us news of the 
birth of a new insurrection, the offspring of the 
French Revolution, and inheriting the worst fea- 
tures of its prototype. But the revolution in 
Prague, like that of Vienna and Cracow, had been 
successfully suppressed. Even Charles Albert 
of Sardinia had received his due at our hands, 
when suddenly the revolution of Hungary re- 
kindled our excitement, where the enemy had 
concentrated his forces, for Poles, Italians, 
Germans, and Frenchmen made that unfor- 
tunate country the plotting-ground for their mad 
schemes. If we had looked forward with delight 
to join the army engaged in the Italian war, 
we viewed the civil war impending on Hungary, 
with very different feelings. 

The former called us to fight against, strangers, 
and to chastise Charles Albert for his treacherous 
invasion — the latter, to carry destruction into a 



\2 THE CAMPAIGN 

country we loved, and to fight against those whom 
we had been accustomed to look on as brothers. 
It was therefore natural, that at first a feeling of 
sadness stole over us at the contemplation of an 
internal war, from which we recoiled with horror, 
in remembering how many sacred ties would be 
rent asunder, how many brave comrades pierced by 
a brother's arm, how many noble feelings would be 
crushed, and how many evil passions conjured up, 
ere the patriot could deluge his country with 
blood, or the loyal become traitors. 

We therefore watched the struggle with anxiety, 
for it was not our lot to be among the first body 
of troops whose loyalty was put to the test, but 
when the bulletins of war, official statements, 
and private letters, apprized us of Kossuth's 
proceedings, our inmost souls were filled with 
indignation towards one who had brought 
so much misery and wretchedness over his 
native land, and we hailed the order to join the 
army in Hungary with unfeigned delight. 
Private considerations were cast into oblivion by 
the enthusiastic desire of standing by our injured 
sovereign, and offering him our heart's best blood 
to save Hungary, and to free her from the fetters a 
democratic faction had attempted to rivet upon her. 



IN HUNGARY. IS 

It would be impossible to describe the universal 
enthusiasm of our regiment, when we received 
orders, on the 15th of April, to march to the 
Hungarian frontier, and to join the brigade under 
the command of the gallant General Benedek, 
who had distinguished himself so signally in 
Gallicia and Italy. 

A soldier only can understand the pleasure and 
alacrity with which the preparations for the 
campaign, including the purchase of horses, saddles, 
and other indispensable necessaries, are made. A 
thousand things are then bought that we deem 
most requisite, quite forgetting how very seldom 
it is granted to a soldier to think of comfort in 
the turbulent life of war, and how rarely cir- 
cumstances permit us to avail ourselves of the 
things stowed away with so much care in our 
portmanteaux, where we find them to our great 
astonishment, on our return to a peaceful home, 
without even having touched or thought of them.' 

The excitement of our departure caused the 
days to fleet past like hours, when, on the 10th, 
I received the unexpected order to precede the 
regiment by four days, and start on the llth, for 
the purpose of regulating quarters for the brigade 



14 THE CAMPAIGN 

as far as the frontier. The twenty-four hours' 
notice sufficed, and I congratulated myself on 
being ready to set out at break of day, when a 
brother-officer entered my room saying : a I have 
news for you — the Poles have got up a rebellion, 
in the territory (of Cracow). They stormed the 
commissariat, with the view of liberating the 
recruits that were already enlisted for the army, 
attacked and shot the militia placed there to 
guard them ; in fact, everything is topsy-turvy — 
so much so, that the garrison here is confined to 

barracks." I stood aghast, whilst my friend B 

threw himself into a chair. 

"It is only a fracas, depend upon it," I 
stammered, " the gens d'armes will put it down." 

" Not at all, you are quite mistaken, " replied 

B ; " this rebellion, insignificant as it appears, 

has its ramifications further than you think ; indeed 
it is suspected to be in connection with the Hun- 
garian insurrection. Field-Marshal Baron Lege- 
ditsch has received an official announcement to 
that effect." 

I tried in vain to calm myself — I was gradually 
getting into a rage with the Poles, my friend, and 
everybody else. " Then," I exclaimed, " our 



IN HUNGARY. 15 

march to Hungary is again frustrated." At this 
moment, a sergeant entered with an order from 
General Legeditsch, that he required my atten- 
dance immediately. 

I buckled on my sword, and, placing my cigar 
case before my friend, followed the sergeant. I 
hurried through the streets with an agitated 
step, scarcely heeding the groups that were 
conversing here and there. An incompre- 
hensible something told me I should hear nothing 
agreeable at the General's. At length, we reached 
the Stradom,* where our Commander-in-Chief 
resided, and, bounding up the long flight of stone 
steps, I barely gave myself time to return the 
sentry's salute. 

The General received me gravely. All my 
friend had said was perfectly true. An estafette 
had reached him requesting immediate reinforce- 
ments of troops, wherefore he had decided on 
sending a company of my division at daybreak to 
Chrzanow, and I was the unfortunate individual 
selected to command this detachment. I must 
confess that, having set my heart on marching 

* The widest street in Cracow. 



16 THE CAMPAIGN 

with the regiment to Hungary, I did not appre- 
ciate the honour which this command conferred 
upon me ; it was ungrateful, I admit, but excusable 
under the circumstances. I had so longed to 
get away from Poland, and was so delighted at 
the prospect of going to Hungary ; and, now that 
my wishes were on the point of being fulfilled, 
a street squabble brought all my ambitious 
plans to nought on the very eve of my depar- 
ture. 

My friend, who awaited me at home, quietly 
smoking a cigar, was assuredly not prepared for 
the news which I was about to bring him, 
and I really was not sorry to turn the 
tables, and become the bearer of bad news to 
him, who had seemed so very certain that this 
rebellion would in no way affect him. 

When I entered the room, his first words were, 
" Well, what news ? " 

" That a division* of our regiment remains in 
Cracow, one company of which starts for Chrzanow 
by a special train at daybreak." 

"And the regiment ?" 

* Three divisions form a battalion, two companies a division, 
210 men constitute a company, the senior captain commands the 
division. 



IN HUNGARY. 17 

" Marches to Hungary," was my laconic reply. 

" Which division goes ? " 

" Mine," I answered. 

Having indulged in a malediction on the Poles, 
he hurried off to the barracks, whilst I set out to 
order the special train. 

It was no joke to rouse up the people at that 
late hour, it being already past midnight. Never- 
theless, I succeeded in awaking the lieutenant of 
the gens d'armerie, and in obtaining from him the 
necessary information as to who the different 
parties were that I must apply to. After some 
considerable difficulty, I made the requisite ar- 
rangements for my departure on the following 
morning, and repaired once more to Baron Lege- 
ditsch, to receive my final instructions, having 
done which I sought a few hours' rest, but in vain. 
The equanimity of my temper had suffered too 
severely, and notwithstanding the general's pro- 
mise that I should join my regiment as soon as I 
succeeded in restoring order in the territory, I 
could not console myself at the mauvais tour fate 
had played me, for the task was not at all to my 
taste, being pretty sure that this band of scy themen 
would give me infinitely more trouble than if I 



18 THE CAMPAIGN 

had disciplined troops to deal with. The cheering 
prospect of beating the woods and bushes, in quest 
of these rioters, whilst my comrades marched in 
an opposite direction, where they would meet 
with an enemy worth defeating, was not likely to 
allow Morpheus to close my eyes in happy oblivion. 

I therefore rose at three o'clock, and, at four, 
started with my company, it having been deemed 
expedient to leave the second company, com- 
manded by Captain B -, at Cracow, to strengthen 

the garrison, which had been considerably 
weakened; for, besides our regiment, a battalion 
of Parma Infantry, the artillery and the cavalry 
regiment, Archduke Charles' Chevaux-Legers, 
had received orders to march to Hungary. 

Having availed myself of the railroad as far 
as Trzebinia, I marched on foot to Chrzanow, 
where the commissary of the district informed me 
that from about 100 to 150 well armed men, led 
on by Strzemetzki and Bachalla, who made every 
effort to enlist the peasantry, had taken up a 
position in the forest, and refused to surrender. 
Their intentions were to way-lay the small military 
detachments, in order to possess themselves of 
their arms, and to march against Cracow with a 






IN HUNGARY. 19 

view of overpowering the garrison there, that 
they might then join the insurgents, who were 
every day expected to arrive from Hungary with 
a force in aid of the Polish struggle to shake off 
the dominion of Austria. 

In the meantime, I received intelligence from 
Tavorzno, a village about seven English miles 
from Chrzanow, which had long been under sur- 
veillance, owing to the notoriously bad spirit 
existing* amongst the labourers of the well know T n 
coal mines, to the effect that the people employed 
there had ceased to work : and, having provided 
themselves with arms of all descriptions, were 
hastening to the assistance of the insurgents in 
Chrzanow. Here was a sufficent proof that this 
little rebellion, insignificant in the commencement, 
and apparently only the result of the momentary 
excitement caused by the first introduction of the 
recruiting system in the territory of Cracow, was 
a premeditated political rising, in close connection 
with the Hungarian insurrection. It was there- 
fore necessary that energetic and rapid measures 
should be adopted, in order to crush the revolu- 
tionary movement in its birth. . 

From the moment that I became acquainted 



20 THE CAMPAIGN 

with the true state of things, the disappointment 
of not marching to Hungary was forgotten, since 
my task was far more important than was generally 
believed. 

Deeming it prudent to assure myself of the 
truth of the reports made to me, previously to 
commencing my operations, I determined to repair 
to Chrzanow with the view of ascertaining the 
strength of my enemy, and the whereabouts of 
the ringleaders, whose persons I was naturally 
desirous to get possession of with the least possible 
delay. 

I therefore divided my company into two de- 
tachments, and, leaving one in Chrzanow, under 
the command of an able officer, set out with the 
other for Tavorzno. 



IN HUNGARY. 21 



CHAPTER II. 

Arrival at Tavorzno — Arrest of two Ringleaders — Attempt 
to liberate them on the part of the Insurgents — Death of 
a gens d'arme — A Polish Jew — The Jew's objection to 
convey the dead body of the gens d'arme to Tavorzno — 
Disloyalty of the Civil Authorities — My application for 
a Reinforcement of Troops — Attack on a Public-house 
— Skirmish at Guazalla — Address to the Authorities — 
Last Measures — Return to Cracow -An interview with 
two Ladies. 

Upon my arrival at Tavorzno I found every- 
thing in the greatest confusion, and the excite- 
ment, which was momentarily on the increase, be- 
came such that the officers employed in the mines, 
for the most part Germans, ran a chance of being 
murdered in broad day-light. 

Seeing that there was not a moment to lose, I 
issued an order to arrest a few of the ringleaders, 
whom I immediately sent under an escort of six 
men and a gens d'arme to Chrzanow. 



22 THE CAMPAIGN 

Towards evening, T was disagreeably surprised 
by the announcement that the escort had been 
attacked on their way home by about 130 armed 
insurgents, and the gens d'arme shot, who having 
made himself obnoxious by the zealous perform- 
ance of his duty, became the first victim. 

My soldiers seeing that the force opposed to 
them left them no other alternative than to escape, 
sprang on the carts which had conveyed the pri- 
soners ; and, having fired a few shots at those 
within reach, spurred their horses on, and suc- 
ceeded in evading their pursuers. From the cor- 
poral's report, I surmised that the insurgents might 
yet be overtaken and prevented from reaching 
Chrzanow. I therefore ordered my men out, and 
went in pursuit of the lawless band, but though I 
spent the greater part of the night in beating 
about the wood from whence the attack had been 
made, I was unsuccessful, and only fell in with 
a few armed stragglers, one of whom was shot, the 
group refusing to halt when challenged. 

A comical scene occurred, when the employes 
of the mines, hearing of the projected expedition, 
for which I required all the troops that could be 
spared, came to me in a body, begging to be per- 



IN HUNGARY. 23 

mitted to accompany me, as they considered them- 
selves exposed to the greatest danger, and felt 
certain that, on the insurgents being informed of 
my departure, they would enter the town and 
murder them. 

I endeavoured to assure them that their fears 
were ungrounded, but in vain. I was eventually 
compelled to give my sanction that these gentle- 
men should accompany me. Half an hour after 
the travesty, Bayards arrived, armed cap-a-pie, 
requesting the honour to form the arriere garde, 
and I do not believe that any inducement could 
have brought them a la tete. 

When my troops at length fired upon the few 
insurgents we met with, my arriere garde thought 
proper to retire further still, lest they should find 
that death here which they sought to escape by 
leaving Tavorzno. The first to return home, they 
took care to boast of their heroic deeds, and are 
to this day proud of being able to say that they 
heard the balls whizz past them. On our way 
back, we found the body of the poor gens d'arme 
whom they had left in the middle of the road, 
after having robbed him of every article of 
dress. 



24 THE CAMPAIGN 

By a very singular chance, a Jew came up with 
a cart at the same moment that I was about tc 
give directions as to the mode of conveying the 
body to Tavorzno, where I determined it should 
be buried. 

Alarmed at the unexpected meeting, the Jew 
was about to turn his horse's head, when I called 
upon him to halt. Taking off his greasy skull- 
cap, he approached me with the cringing manner 
peculiar to Polish Jews. 

" Your cart is empty, I see ; at all events, 
whether it is or not, you must take the corpse of 
the gens d'arme to Tavorzno." 

An expression of horror and of extreme fear was 
depicted on the Jew's countenance as he began 
to expostulate on the impossibility of his comply- 
ing with my order, since it must taint the barrel 
of brandy which he was conveying to Chrzanow, 
and which would be left on his hands if it was 
discovered that it had travelled in company with a 
dead body. 

I could scarcely refrain from laughing at the 
strange figure of the Jew before me, who was now 
clasping his hands in despair, then playing with his 
long beard. Knowing the Jewish population to 



IN HUNGARY. 25 

be anything but loyal, 1 cut the matter short by 
ordering the barrel of brandy to be put on the 
road, where I told him he might watch it till the 
cart returned. This order had the desired effect, 
for the Jew said that, as the barrel was closed, it 
would not so much signify; and the body of the 
unfortunate gens d'arme was placed on the cart 
without any further objection on the part of its 
owner, whose lamentations were truly amusing. 

The next morning, I put the most stringent 
measures, which the urgency of the case demanded, 
into force ; and, having displaced the civil au- 
thorities, who, being Poles, were discovered to 
favour the movement, I succeeded in checking the 
progress of the organized rebellion, without 
having been able to strike a decisive blow at its 
existence, because the military force at my com- 
mand was insufficient to attempt an attack on the 
different parts where the torch of sedition had 
been ignited. It could scarcely be expected that 
an infantry company, consisting of about 140 men 
only, could be brought to operate with success on 
a space of sixteen geographical square miles. I 
therefore at once made a report to head-quarters, 
in Cracow, relative to the state of affairs, and 

c 



26 THE CAMPAIGN 

represented the urgent necessity of an immediate 
reinforcement. My demand was complied with, 
and a few days later I had the command of three 
hundred and fifty infantry, thirty picked men of 
cavalry, and a division of artillery. 

Being then in a position to insist by force of 
arms on the punctual execution of my orders, I 
addressed a circular to such of the commissaries of 
districts as could he depended on ; calling upon 
them to do their utmost towards the restoration of 
peace, and enjoining them to prevent any assist- 
ance being given to the insurgents, by all means 
in their power ; and finally, made them responsi- 
ble for the extradition of suspicious individuals. 
It was next desirable to ascertain the stations of 
the guerilla bands, who seemed to be ubiquitous. 

Not wishing to harass my troops unnecessarily, 
I sent spies in all directions, who soon brought me 
the information that about one hundred and eighty 
insurgents were in the habit of meeting every 
night in a public-house called Oblaski, and dis- 
turbing the neighbourhood. 

On being made acquainted with all the parti- 
culars, I repaired to Chrzanow, the centre of my 
operations, where my small force had concentrated, 



IN HUNGARY. 27 

to give the necessary order for an attack that 
night; and, on the 18th, about half-past one 
o'clock in the morning, my little army moved 
quietly out of the town, and took the direction of 
Onaczalla. 

On reaching the public-house called Oblaski, I 
made a halt, divided my men for the purpose of 
surrounding the building and outhouses, ordering 
them to attack on a given signal, simultaneously. 
But 1 only succeeded in capturing a small number 
of individuals belonging to the band, from whom 
I ascertained that their comrades and ringleaders 
had remained carousing in the public-house till 
midnight, when they retired to an adjacent wood 
of considerable extent, where they purposed to 
await the reinforcements promised them, from 
different districts of the territory. 

Determined to avail myself of this important 
information, I at once made for the forest desig- 
nated, which was only about two English miles 
from the public-house, and was fortunate enough 
to find the rebels sitting quite unconcernedly 
round a bright fire ; when, on a signal given by 
their outposts who had perceived me, they hurried- 
ly placed themselves in a state of defence, and re- 

c 2 



28 THE CAMPAIGN 

ceived our attack with a volley of musketry. 
After a struggle, which lasted about an hour, they 
surrendered. The result of this skirmish was, 
that I captured twenty-seven prisoners, amongst 
whom were the two ringleaders, Strzemetzki, and 
Bachalla, and killed some twelve or fifteen. The 
rest had succeeded in effecting their escape 
through the many by-roads and hollows with 
which they were well acquainted. 

It would be difficult to describe the joy my men 
testified at the successful issue of this little affair. 
The cavalry preceded us, bearing the lances we 
had taken from the insurgents, then followed the 
infantry, divided into two columns, between which 
were the prisoners. 

The next day, I sent a full report of the night's 
events, with the names of those captured, to head- 
quarters in Cracow. Not content with the infor- 
mation I had received relative to the state of the 
country, and anxious to prove myself worthy of 
the confidence placed in me, I resolved to recon- 
noitre the environs, and assure myself as to how 
far the country was clear from the bands that 
infested it. 

On my return, I called a meeting of the Mayor3 



IN HUNGARY. 29 

of the different villages, and explained to them 
how matters stood, as well as their duty towards 
the government. On this occasion, I had an op- 
portunity of judging how little sympathy the 
country people had for revolutionary principles, 
unless misled by false representations. 

I was just beginning to congratulate myself on 
the dissolution of the respective insurgent bands, 
when, not many days after, I was informed that 
some eighty armed men had concealed themselves 
in the ruins of Tencyn, about ten English miles 
from Chrzanow; in consequence of which, I set 
out for the place in question about nightfall. 
We reached our destination at daybreak ; but the 
insurgents, warned in time of my approach by 
their friends, had decamped, and my only reward 
was to witness the rising sun, — a magnificent 
sight — from the top of Tencyn Castle, situated on 
a high mountain, and commanding an extensive 
view of the country around. 

On the highest point of this imposing ruin, 
still well conserved, we officers threw ourselves 
down to repose after our fatiguing march, gazing 
with admiration on the majestic sun, as he ascended 
slowly above the horizon, the different objects in 



30 THE CAMPAIGN 

the beautiful landscape emerging gradually from 
darkness. But notwithstanding the awe-inspiring 
grandeur of this scene, I thought it but a poor 
compensation for my tedious nocturnal expedition, 
and, rallying my men, we resumed our march 
homewards. 

My plan, of disturbing the insurgents con- 
tinually in their hiding-places, which rendered a 
well-directed attack on their part impracticable, 
proved successful ; and convinced at last, that no 
revolutionary attempts would be followed up at 
present, the different bands soon dispersed. In 
less than a week, not a single armed man was to 
be seen. As I received an intimation that 
several notorious characters had fled to Prussia, 
with the view of awaiting a more favourable op- 
portunity, I repaired to Mislowice, for the purpose 
of drawing the attention of the authorities to those 
well-known dangerous individuals. 

More than ever anxious to join my regiment in 
Hungary, I reported my mission as completed to 
head-quarters previously to my departure ; and, 
on my return from the Prussian frontier, found 
an order to place a few small detachments in dif- 
ferent stations of the territory, and then return to 



IN HUNGARY. 31 

Cracow with my company. Thus ended the 
insurrection in the territory, which was so greatly 
magnified by the press of foreign nations. 

I cannot help remarking, on this occasion, how 
inconceivable it seems, that men, who are ready to 
stake life itself in a cause which they apparently 
take up with so much warmth, should lose all spirit 
and energy at the commencement of perils and 
difficulties which they must have foreseen. 
Here were people who, although they had long 
matured a well-concocted plan, yet surrendered 
on the appearance of a disciplined force, and thus 
gave up their scheme, for the success of which they 
had ventured so much, after a brief resistance. 

It must be deeply lamented that such were the 
manoeuvres put into practice by the Poles of late 
years, which were not only calculated to draw 
them into ridicule, but must also be detrimental 
to the reputation they heretofore enjoyed of 
being a bold, fearless, and noble nation. 
Indefatigable in conspiring, yet indolence and a 
want of spirit in the execution of their plots, 
disqualify them from being successful leaders. 
Such imbecile conduct holds them up to the deri- 
sion of Europe, injures their cause, and places 



6% THE CAMPAIGN 

them on a level with the adventurous street-rioters. 
At the same time, it may not be denied that the 
Pole has ever distinguished himself by signal bra- 
very, when fighting in the ranks of regular, well- 
disciplined troops. 

On my arrival in Cracow, I felt amply rewarded 
on hearing that General Baron Legeditsch had 
expressed his approbation as to the manner in 
which I had acquitted myself of the command 
entrusted to me, and I was delighted at length to 
receive an order to join my regiment with my 
division and 200 recruits on the following day. 

The evening previously to my departure for Hun- 
gary, my servant announced, with a smile, that 
two ladies were in the ante-chamber and had 
expressed a wish to see me. I was a little per- 
plexed, I confess, at so strange an occurrence, and 
pondered as to who they could be, and what their 
object was, when my servant amused me beyond 
measure by the innocent remark, that they were 
extremely well dressed, and had come with a foot- 
man. I desired him to show them in. 

One was d'un certain age — the other, young and 
rather pretty. The elder advanced, and, addressing 
me in French, begged I would tell her candidly 



IN HUNGARY. OO 

whether I thought Mr. Strzemetzki " to be seri- 
ously compromised ?" Here was a pretty question 
to answer, considering that he was the ringleader. 
Determined, at all events, to put the best face on 
the matter, I replied, in my blandest tone, 
" Why^ Madame, it depends upon what you call 
seriously compromised." 

" Well, I mean, whether he will be found 
guilty of high treason ?" 

Seeing that this was a lady, who would certainly 
come at the truth in spite of me, I answered ? 
" Most decidedly." 

" Then, he will be hanged," she said, calmly. 

I breathed again, for she had saved me the 
trouble of informing her of the disagreeable fact, 
but then I remembered, that the younger lady had 
not spoken at all yet ; she might perhaps be deeply 
interested, for aught I knew, in the prisoner, and 
would probably faint on hearing the mention of 
his unavoidable fate. The prospect of a lady 
fainting in my room was something more than I 
was equal to, and I really felt embarrassed as to 
what I should say, but a moment's reflection 
brought the conviction, that it was far more cha- 
ritable to speak the truth, than to mislead them: 

c3 



Si THE CAMPAIGN 

I therefore said that, " I had every reason to 
believe that the extreme sentence of the law 
would be carried into execution." 

An awkward pause followed my declaration, 
after which, the elder lady again addressed me, 
begging that I would at least intercede for him, 
convinced that his pardon must be granted at my 
request. 

The idea of my appearing before Baron Lege- 
ditsch to ask the pardon of the man whom it had 
cost so much trouble to capture, was too ludicrous, 
he being not only the most culpable, but also the 
most dangerous individual. Fully aware that the 
government had resolved to make an example, I 
knew besides, from the charges brought against 
him, that he was a lost man. I therefore couched 
my answer in mild but positive terms, which I 
trusted, would convince my fair visitors, that it 
was not in my power to do anything for the pri- 
soner, and that from the very fact of my having 
had an opportunity of assuring myself of the extent 
of his guilt, it was utterly impossible for me to 
say one word in his favour. 

The elder lady then informed me that her 
younger companion was a relative of the prisoner's, 



IN HUNGARY. 35 

and begged me to do my utmost to save his life. 
I terminated the interview by saying that, as I 
should leave Cracow for Hungary the next 
morning, I could do nothing even if I were so 
disposed ; thereupon, the ladies made me a stiff 
bow, and moved towards the door, which I 
opened with unfeigned delight. 

How my heart expanded when they were gone 
may be conceived, since the interview was quite 
as painful to me as to the two ladies ! 



36 



THE CAMPAIGN 



CHAPTER III. 

Departure from Cracow — March to Priviczna — Meeting 
with two Imperial Couriers — Count Szirmay — Feelings 
of the Peasantry— Entry into Hungary — Arrival at 
Lublo — Disloyalty of the Inhabitants — Kossuth's Ma- 
noeuvres to win Proselytes to his cause — Attempt to 
Seduce my Troops — Arrest of Two Citizens — Hospita- 
lity of the Budlein Inhabitants — Arrival at Kasemark — 
Mysterious Warnings — Unexpected Meeting with Sol- 
diers of the Regiment — Their Complaints against the 
Inhabitants — Interview with the Burgermeister — His 
Arrest — Encampment — The Deputations — The Alarm — 
Liberality on the part of the Inhabitants towards our 

Troops in the Distribution of Wine — Baroness W 

An Old Acquaintance— Important Information. 

Having scarcely closed my eyes the night pre- 
ceding my departure for Hungary, I did not find 
it any hardship to rise as soon as the first ray 
of light pierced through the crevices of my win- 
dow-shutters, and was not sorry to find that the 
morning promised a lovely May-day, with no 
clouds in the sky, no vestige of the harsh spring 



IN HUNGARY. 87 

in its balmy air, perfumed with all the fragrance 
peculiar to that month. 

The clocks of the different churches struck the 
sixth hour just as my division, consisting of 500 
men, including the recruits, took up a position in 
the large square in Cracow, to await the inspec- 
tion of General Baron Moltke, after which we 
commenced our march at seven o'clock. 

On our way through the town, we halted on 
the Stradom, before the residence of General 
Baron Legeditsch, where we had received orders 
to defile, after which we gave three cheers to the 
General Commandant as a farewell, who, in 
shaking hands, expressed towards me his best 
wishes. Half an hour after this, we crossed the 
bridge which divides Podgorze from Cracow, and 
were on the high road to Idow. 

General Baron Moltke having accompanied us 
for about ten English miles from Cracow, turned 
his horse's head to join with regret the garrison 
we had left, whilst I spurred on my horse with a 
light heart; and, as I rode past, my men observed 
with pleasure, that they felt quite as happy as 
myself to be on the way to the battle-field. 

At Idow, I engaged 120 waggons, and thus we 



88 THE CAMPAIGN 

proceeded in forced marches to the frontier town 
called Priviczna, without having met with any 
adventure worth recording. 

At Priviczna I found two officers, Major 
Count Szirmay (Hungarian Magnate) and first- 
Lieutenant Wytlacil, both Imperial couriers and 
the bearers of important despatches for Field- 
Marshal Vogel and General Benedek. They had 
awaited me with a view of joining the column in 
order to pass that part of upper Hungary, par- 
ticularly the Zipser Comitat (which had been con- 
siderably fanaticised) unmolested, and reach the 
place of their destination in safety. 

Count Szirmay was also charged with the im- 
portant mission of informing the Sclavonian 
population of the real state of things, and of ex- 
plaining to them that the government, so far from 
wishing to deprive them of their rights, was most 
anxious to ameliorate the condition of all nations, 
and to ensure their common welfare, which objects 
they had in view ; whereas, the insurgent govern- 
ment, actuated only by interested and impure mo- 
tives, must plunge the country into the deepest 
misfortunes, and eventually accomplish its ruin 
at a later period. 



IN HUNGARY. 3\) 

Count Szirmay told me that he had, on several 
occasions, been astonished at the remarkably 
sound common sense everywhere displayed by the 
country people, distinguishing justice from ini- 
quity, right from wrong, with almost incredible 
acuteness, which convinced him that compulsory 
measures alone could induce them to deviate from 
the lawful path ; and that the peasant being fully 
aware that the penalty which the ringleader 
ought by right to pay, ever falls on him, whereby 
he generally forfeits his little property and life, 
recognises the fallacy of Revolution at a glance, 
and is invariably opposed to it. Nor is this 
astonishing, since it is a well-known fact that the 
ostensible leaders who corrupt the mass, imme- 
diately quit the field on the failure of their plans, 
and placing themselves beyond the avenging arm 
of justice with disgraceful cowardice leave the 
misled million to pay for the few. 

Thus it is easily accounted for, that no rebel- 
lion in Poland could succeed, for the Gallician 
peasant cannot be induced to believe in the fine 
promises held out to him by the haughty Satrapes, 
which are no sooner made than broken, and there- 
fore he clings to the Imperial Government, which 



40 THE CAMPAIGN 

not only has never deceived him, but was his only 
protection against the well-known tyranny of his 
landlord. 

It was very much the same case in Hungary, 
where the peasantry did not, as is generally 
believed, make common cause with the rebels ; 
but, so far from taking an active part in the 
revolution, they remained passive in many parts, 
awaiting the issue of this bloody civil war calmly, 
except when excited by inflammatory speeches, or 
in those districts where the clergy, unmindful of 
their sacred duty, encouraged them to sedition 
with an enthusiasm by which they were often 
carried away. 

On the 5 th May, 1849, we took leave of Grallician 
ground, and bade adieu to a comfortable bed, for, 
from that time, mother earth was to be our only 
couch. 

About 5 o'clock in the morning, my small corps 
stood in rank and file in the little square in 
Priviczna, a small but neat town, situated in the 
beautiful valley called Poprat, which intersects the 
majestic Carpathian mountains in this direction. 

Each then examined his musket and ammunition 
with care previously to loading it,* and, hastily 



IN HUNGARY. 41 

demolishing some bread indulged in a long draught 
out of his Tschuttora, taking care to fasten it well, 
lest any portion of the Sklikowitz,* so precious 
to the soldier on those occasions, should be spilt, 
and then awaited the word of command impatiently, 
as if the first step across the frontier would bring 
us in collision with the enemy. 

Mr. Persina, the tax-collector, had had the 
kindness to prepare an excellent breakfast for us, 
to which we did great credit, concluding it with a 
cheer for our chivalrous Emperor. Mr. Persina, 
perfectly well acquainted with the country around, 
offered himself as my guide, which proposition I 
joyfully accepted ; and, about six o'clock, we set 
out for the frontier of that beautiful land so highly 
favoured by nature, but now bleeding from a 
thousand wounds. 

We soon reached the line which separates Hun- 
gary from Gallicia, where I found an officer on 
guard with a small detachment, who greeted us 
warmly ; and, after an eight hours' march through a 
narrow pathless causeway, the wild but romantic 
and splendid scenery of which fully indemnified 
us for all other desagrements, we reached Lublo, 

* Brandy, made from plums. 



4f2 THE CAMPAIGN 

one of the sixteen Zipser towns, without having 
heard or seen anything of the enemy. 

The greater part of the population of the sixteen 
Zipser towns are Germans, and, with the excep- 
tion of Budlein, which is a Catholic town, Protestant 
and Calvinists, consequently adherents of Kossuth, 
who is of the latter persuasion, and knew how to 
win them over to his cause by the grossest and 
basest fictions, telling them, for instance, that the 
free exercise of their faith depended on the 
successful issue of the Hungarian revolution ; he 
assured them, that, in the event of the Imperial 
government being successful, their religion would 
be endangered. 

Thus deluded, it may readily be supposed they 
were favourable to Kossuth's cause, and ready at 
all times to assist him and his party by every means 
in their power, giving him constant and immense 
contributions of shoes, boots, horse-trappings, 
and cloth for the army ; they supported him most 
actively throughout, with the exception of Budlein, 
which kept aloof from the revolutionary party. 

Kossuth's talent for fiction was of essential 
service to him, for by misrepresentations alone 
and numerous cunning devices, could he succeed 
in keeping the struggle up so long. 



IN HUNGARY. 43 

That district of Hungary may bs considered 
to have been the most fanaticised, and therefore 
violent partisans of the revolutionary faction, who 
favoured the civil war far more than even the 
pure Hungarian districts of the Cumanes and the 
Tazyges. 

At about half an English mile from Lublo, I 
was met by a deputation of burghers, who assured 
me of their loyalty, and expressed themselves 
most willing to attend to my wishes and orders. 
Unfortunately for them, I had been warned not 
to trust to the apparent complaisance I should 
meet with in that part of Hungary, and by no 
means to place confidence in their enthusiastic 
expression of devotion. I therefore received this 
deputation with cool politeness, and, confining 
myself merely to ordering the necessary provisions 
for my men, within the shortest time, entered the 
town, where I picked out the largest localities to 
quarter my detachment, for which room could 
scarcely be found. 

Having directed the necessary videttes to be 
placed, and assured myself that all was right, I 
took advantage of Mr. Persina's invitation, and 
with the few officers free from duty, proceeded to 



44 THE CAMPAIGN 

his falher-in-law's, where a magnificent supper 
awaited us, after which we were shown to our 
dormitoire, a large room, where some fresh straw 
was prepared on the floor. Rendered somewhat 
sleepy by our long march, and the hot Hunga- 
rian wines, it may be supposed that we gladly 
availed ourselves of the beds offered. 

I had not slept long, when I was awoke by my 
sergeant, who announced, that a patrol had arrested 
two citizens of the town, who had endeavoured to 
tamper with some of my recruits. Indignant at 
this treachery, I sent for the recreants, and having 
acquainted them that the nature of their offence 
placed them under martial law, which sentences to 
death by powder and shot all those individuals 
who seek to corrupt the army, I told them, they 
must consider themselves as my prisoners, and 
accompany me to head-quarters, where they 
would be tried by court-martial, warning them 
that, if they attempted to escape, I should exercise 
my prerogative, and have them shot on the 
spot. 

This occurrence deprived me of my night's rest ; 
and it being a significant proof that I was sur- 
rounded by enemies, I determined to continue my 



IN HUNGARY. 45 

march at daybreak, and for that purpose directed 
120 waggons to be in readiness at the first dawn 
of the morning. 

Between five and six o'clock, I set out for 
Kesemark with the column of vehicles, which I 
had necessarily divided into several partitions, as 
much for security-sake as to be able to guide 
them, congratulating myself on having escaped 
the machinations of the rebellious inhabitants of 
Lublo. 

The line of extraordinary-looking carts directed 
by me through the medium of tambours, placed at 
certain intervals, was an original sight, and the 
gaiety of the soldiers, who were singing almost 
continually, might have caused this cortege to 
resemble more a party of pleasure, than a war- 
like expedition, if the full accoutrements of the 
men, with their bayonets glittering in the sun, 
had not destroyed the illusion. 

On reaching Budlein, I halted, wishing to give 
man and horse the much-needed repose of a short 
hour. We were well received by the popu- 
lation, who entertained us most hospitably, 
offering us excellent bread and cheese, of which 
we partook with considerable appetite. 



46 



THE CAMPAIGN 



Hoping that they might possibly have heard 
something of General Benedek's brigade, I ques- 
tioned them, but could obtain no accurate infor- 
mation, and thanking the inhabitants for their 
civility, we continued our route till within a short 
distance of Kesemark. 

This place having been represented to me as 
being ill-disposed towards the Imperial Govern- 
ment, I thought it more prudent to make my men 
dismount ; and, having ordered them to form rank 
and file, approached the town with the drums beat- 
ing. I had scarcely proceeded about a hundred 
steps, when a gentleman approached me, and said 
in an under tone : — 

" Sir, the inhabitants harbour sinister intentions 
towards you, — be cautious ! " 

I asked for an explanation of this mysterious 
warning, but the stranger was gone, and, I conti- 
nued my way reflecting on the singular occur- 
rence, when a respectably-dressed woman ap- 
proached me, timidly, saying as she pointed to the 
town : — 

" Oh ! Sir, be on your guard ! They purpose 
overpowering you." 

Determined to know more this time, I laid my 



IN HUNGARY. 47 

Laud gently, but firmly, on her arm : " Speak 
on, how came you to be informed of the fact ? " 
I said, fixing my eyes on her, but she answered 
unhesitatingly: — 

" I will tell you that, Sir ; when the approach 
of your troops was announced, carts were sent in 
all directions to acquaint the guerilla-bands (of 
which there are many in the neighbourhood) of 
your arrival, in order that they may attack you in 
the middle of the night. I cannot tell you more, 
good Sir, nor may I tarry ; for, if it should be 
discovered that I exchanged a word with you, I 
should fare badly after your departure." 

Truly this was a pleasant state of things, a 
cheering prospect to be thus deprived of our 
night's rest ; but, as no alternative was left me, 
except to march on, I acquainted the officers and the 
two Imperial couriers of the reported danger, which, 
after all, might only be a stratagem ; and, deter- 
mined to make no further use of the important inti- 
mation, than to recommend double vigilance to my 
officers, and to act with extreme caution myself. 

Within a short distance of the town, I was not 
a little surprised to meet with a group of soldiers 
bearing the facings of our regiment. Their woful 



48 THE CAMPAIGN 

countenances, which gradually relaxed into smiles 
as we approached, and crest-fallen appearance, ex- 
cited my curiosity. 

" What has delayed you here ?" I asked. Their 
answer was comprised in few words. They had 
been taken ill on the march, and were left behind 
by the regiment until sufficiently recovered to 
join, but a few nights after the regiment had 
left, they were attacked by armed men, who broke 
into their room, and robbed them of their clothes, 
money, arms, and ammunition. 

Having desired them to follow me, I entered 
the town, and, drawing up on the Piazza, requested 
the immediate attendance of the Burgomaster, 
whose pale looks betrayed that he made a pretty 
good guess as to the object of my interview, par- 
ticularly since the plundered soldiers stood near 
me. I asked him briefly : " Are you aware that 
the dwelling of these soldiers, who were left 
behind by their regiment as invalids, was broken 
into at night, and that their arms and ammunition 
were taken away by armed insurgents ? " 

" Yes," stammered he. 

" What measures did you adopt to recover their 
property?" 



IN HUNGARY. 49 

" None." 

"Why none?" 

" Because the affair happened at night, and these 
people were armed : and, in fact, I did not know 
who they were, except that they belonged to the 
guerilla bands of this neighbourhood, against whom 
it was impossible forme to attempt any resistance." 

"But you must have known perfectly well, that 
the guerilla bands could not have attacked the 
soldiers and plundered them, if they had not been 
informed of their stay here by the inhabitants of 
the town, who must have betrayed their place of 
residence to the enemy. It was, in any case, your 
duty to make strict inquiries ; and, at all events, 
you ought, in the first instance, to have adopted 
the necessary measures to protect the soldiers 
from such an aggression. Your justification is, 
therefore, not at all satisfactory to me; and I 
regret to be compelled, under the circumstances, 
to make you my prisoner, until the stolen pro- 
perty be restored to me. The disgraceful treat- 
ment Imperial soldiers have received from a 
German population, and which you tolerated, 
sufficiently proves the disloyalty of the inhabi- 
tants. ' 

D 



50 THE CAMPAIGN 

The Burgomaster returned no answer, and, 
having placed a guard over him, we encamped on 
a long plain about an English mile from the town. 
Having ordered two sergeants on outpost service, 
we prepared to dine, after which I purposed to 
march to Poprat, where it would be necessary to 
give the men a few hours' rest before I continued 
my route to St. Miklos, in the environs of which 
I hoped to meet with the corps of General Bene- 
dek, the next, or at the latest, the second day. 

Having taken all necessary precautions to pre- 
vent a surprise, I, with the officers, sought refuge 
from a scorching sun under a large tree, and medi- 
tated upon the events of the morning, when a de- 
putation of Burghers was announced. Their errand 
was simply a request that I would set the Burgo- 
master free, assuring me of his loyalty, as well as 
their own. I advised them another time to prove 
their loyalty with deeds, rather than words, and 
dismissed them. 

About an hour after this, two other deputations 
waited on me, with the same demand. These I 
also acquainted with my determination not to 
relent, until the property had been restored to the 
soldiers, finally assuring them that all further 



IN HUNGARY. 51 

applications were useless, unless my order was 
complied with. 

The last deputation had scarcely left me, when 
a corporal announced that the alarm was beaten 
in the town, and the inhabitants preparing to 
attack me, with the intention of enforcing their 
dem md. Ordering my men to fall in, I marched 
towards Kesmark. But my approach was no 
sooner known there, than order was quickly 
restored ; and a deputation met me with the most 
solemn assurances of their loyalty, saying that the 
alarm had been beaten in consequence of a fire 
which broke out, but not, as evil-minded persons 
had supposed, with any view of a hostile demon- 
stration against my troops on the part of the 
inhabitants. 

Although perfectly well aware of their real 
intentions, and the falsity of their statements, I 
yet thought it more prudent to refrain from using 
coercive measures, and seemed to credit their pro- 
testations, hoping thus to allay the public excite- 
ment. I then once more encamped, but this time 
within a few yards of the town ; and requesting 
that my soldiers might speedily be provided for, 
we sought repose again, when a lady solicited an 

2d 



52 THE CAMPAIGN 

interview, which I of course granted. Her ap- 
pearance was very prepossessing, and her manners 
were such as to convince me at once that I was 
addressed by a person of rank. 

It was the Baroness W g, possessed of 

some property in the neighbourhood, who came to 
intercede for my friend the Burgomaster, assuring 
me that he might justly be reckoned as one of the 
most loyal of his Majesty's subjects — that his 
private and public character was such as to forbid 
a doubt of his having been implicated in the 
plunder of the soldiers, which circumstance must 
be attributed to the disturbed times, rather than 
to any neglect on his part — because the town 
being continually surrounded by guerilla bands, 
it became impossible for him to attempt any re- 
prisals against the delinquents, as he had no 
soldiers at his disposal to enforce his demand. 
Wherefore, he could not have acted otherwise 
than he had done, without endangering the safety 
of the loyal part of the population. 

The seductive eloquence and fascinating man- 
ners of my fair visitor rendered my task a most 
disagreeable one, but I could only give one answer, 
and that was a refusal, which I couched in the 



IN HUNGARY. 53 

most polite terms, endeavouring to convince her 
that duty and inclination very rarely go hand in 
hand, and consequently of the dire necessity of 
my following the dictates of the former, which 
compelled me most reluctantly to appear so un- 
gallant. In fact, I have a faint remembrance of 
making a very fine speech on the occasion, and 
certainly consider myself to have behaved ex- 
tremely well under the trying circumstances. 

The world knows how difficult it is to convince 
a lady, whether she be right or wrong, and how 
rarely she gives up a point when determined on 
carrying it. Such was the case in the present 
instance ; it may, therefore, be conceived that I 
was in a most unpleasant predicament, for the 
argument grew warmer at every moment without 
my being able to gain ground, since, for all the 
reasons I adduced as a justification of my perse- 
verance, my fair adversary had an answer, which 
necessitated a further reply on my part, and I was 
at my wit's end how to close this interview, which 
had become extremely embarrassing. The Ba- 
roness determined to leave no means untried, 
appealed to my pity in the most winning terms, 
entreating me to liberate the Burgomaster for the 



51 THE CAMPAIGN 

sake of his wife, who was not in a condition to 
hear of the imprisonment of her husband without 
perhaps paying with her life the sudden shock. 
This was a home blow — married mvself, I could 
understand Madame's grief; and, finding that all 
attempts to convince my applicant of the impos- 
sibility of my complying with her request were 
useless, I expressed my regret that, not being 
sufficiently acquainted with the Burgomaster to 
judge of his loyalty, otherwise than by his deeds, 
I could not allow private considerations to inter- 
fere with my duty. 

" I see you doubt me," she replied ; " take me 
perhaps for a rebel,'' added she, with a smile. 
" Do you know any person here, or in the neigh- 
bourhood, who could convince you of my honest 
motives ?" 

" Not a soul," I answered. 

" Well, but perhaps if I name some officers, who 
have retired from the army, you may chance to be 
personally acquainted with one out of the many." 

She had mentioned about a dozen, none of whom 
I knew, when an open phaeton drove past. 

" There !" exclaimed the Baroness, " surely 
you know Major Badany, formerly of the Nicholas 



IN HUNGARY. 55 

Hussars — he was quartered in Bohemia some years 
ago r 

In the meantime, Major Badany, who was 
really an old acquaintance of mine, drew up, on 
perceiving me, and approached me hurriedly to 
shake hands. It was some years since we had 
met, when we enjoyed many a happy hour toge- 
ther, and old reminiscences, therefore, made our 
meeting a delightful one. 

The Baroness W g, who had appealed to 

him, he assured me was most loyal, and quite ad- 
verse to the Kossuth faction. With regard to the 
Burgomaster, he admitted that he failed in the 
execution of his duty to some extent, adding that, 
all circumstances considered, he could not well 
have acted otherwise. 

The Burgomaster, on his part, expressed him- 
self ready to make some reparation to the soldiers 
for the loss they had sustained, with the exception 
of the arms and ammunition, which had been car- 
ried away by the guerilla band. I therefore told 

the Baroness W g that my future intentions 

with regard to the Burgomaster must be regulated 
by the conduct of the inhabitants, whose fault it 
would be, if he was not liberated at my departure, 



56 THE CAMPAIGN 

until then, however, I insisted on his remaining in 
the camp as a hostage. 

When the Baroness W g was gone, Major 

Badany said somewhat seriously : " Well, tell me 
what you are doing here, and whither you are 
going ?" 

"A few words will put you aufait" I replied : 
" I am on my way to join the brigade of General 
Benedek." 

"Good God!" he ejaculated, "why you must 
be mad to attempt it. Are you aware that there 
are, at this moment, one hundred and thirty-five 
English miles between you and General Benedek — 
that your road lies through the valley of the Waag 
to Presburg, where the Austrian army is con- 
centrating, and which, believe me, you cannot 
reach, In spite of the greatest physical exertions, 
without sacrificing your men and officers, for you 
must be annihilated." 

Seeing that I was not to be dissuaded, he added 
in a whisper, " General Dembinski is at Leuts- 
chak, which is within twenty English miles of you, 
with 10,000 men, and has ordered 1,000 waggons 
to convey his troops at the dawn of day, to-mor- 
row. His intention is to attack Benedek in the 



IN HUNGARY. 57 

rear, and, if you advance, your corps is doomed. 
What renders your position still more difficult is, 
that messengers and carts have been sent in a 
directions to the guerilla bands encamped in this 
neighbourhood, who purpose to attack you within 
a few leagues of the town." 

The information given me by my friend was as 
serious as it was important, and of its correctness 
I could scarcely entertain a doubt, for he knew 
every movement of the enemy. What was to be 
done ? Inclination urged us on — prudence sug- 
gested a retreat 

When Major Badany had taken his departure, 
enjoining me to be cautious, I consulted with my 
officers, quite as unwilling to retreat as myseif. 
So many fatal conjunctions rendered my expedition 
extremely difficult, and I would ten thousand times 
rather stand exposed to a shower of cannon balls, 
than be placed in so critical a position again. To 
have decided upon my course of action, with re- 
ference to the mere suggestions of military order, 
would have been culpable here, for the duty of a 
commandant, is to take the strength of his troops 
into consideration, and not expose the lives of 

d 3 



58 THE CAMPAIGN 

those confided to him, without the possibility of 
deriving any advantage. 

In the meantime, the inhabitants had provided 
my soldiers liberally, but wine I found had been 
given in such large quantities as to make it obvious 
that their intention was to intoxicate the troops, 
and to render them unavailable. I immediately re- 
stricted the use of the beverage, and was astonished 
to hear from several of the men, that the young 
girls, who had brought their dinner, advised them 
to be on their guard. I could not but see plainly 
that every moment's delay increased the danger. 



IN HUNGARY. 59 



CHAPTER IV. 

Retreat to Winschensdorf — Arrival at that place -The 
Landlord and his Bill arouse my suspicions — Ap- 
proach of the Enemy — Removal of the baggage — Intre- 
pidity of my servants — Pursuit by three Hussars — The 
baggage and the Government money — The two pri- 
soners — Their attempt to escape, and consequent death 

— A sharp Skirmish — Count S wounded — His loyalty 

— The Countess S My horse is shot — Narrow escape 

from being killed myself — Bad leadership on the part of 
the Magyars — Cruelty of the Hungarians towards their 

prisoners — Count C 's dreadful death— Gorgey's 

kindness to General Baron Goty — General Baron Goty 
and Captain Baron Goty's death — The Dispatch — My 
retreat to Altendorf — My position at Altendorf and 
Szomovce — The Enemy's approach — I receive Orders to 
defend the Pass — Preparations to receive the Enemy — 
Treachery of the Mayor of Altendorf — Salutation 
between the Chief of the Guerilla Bands and myself — 
The Enemy's attack — Skirmish at Szomovce — Retreat of 

the enemy — Arrival of CaptaiD H \s Guide to the 

Russian Corps, under the Command of General Baron 
Saas — My Departure from Szomovce — The Estafette — 

Counter Orders — My application to General Baron S 

— His Reply — I receive definite Orders to join the Bri- 
gade of General Baron Bario — Arrival in Sandee — Un- 



60 THE CAMPAIGN 

expected Meeting with Count S -A Dinner-Party — 

Introduction to several Hungarians — Their Complaints 
against Kossuth — I join my Division at Sucho. 

I collected my men, and explained the neces- 
sity of an immediate retreat to the officers ; since, 
by advancing, I ran the risk of being engaged in a 
cross fire by Dembinski's corps and the guerilla 
bands; moreover, I was not acquainted with the 
exact position of General Benedek. Besides, the 
country before me was occupied by an enemy of 
superior force, with whom I could not cope ; 
having no prospect of obtaining assistance, being 
without cavalry and artillery, and not even pro- 
vided with reserve ammunition. It would there- 
fore be madness to challenge a force of 10,000 
men, particularly since my retreat would then be 
cut off by the enemy, who was coming upon us 
from two sides, and who must succeed in sur- 
rounding us, if we delayed. Having weighed all 
these facts over well, I with regret gave the order 
to march by Bela and Winschensdorf, to the 
Gallician frontier. 

We reached Winschensdorf only late the same 
night, and consequently found all the inhabitants 
asleep. It was some time before I succeeded in 



IN HUNGARY. 61 

waking the Mayor of the town. But it was still 
more difficult to get him to understand that my 
men must be quartered in the place ; — whereupon, 
he offered to have some straw put in to the adjoin- 
ing sheds. Glad enough to obtain even that, we 
accepted his proposition, desiring to be supplied 
with bread and cheese, which we enjoyed greatly; 
not a little delighted to have baffled the guerilla 
bands of Kesemark, and indulging in the hope 
that we had escaped the most imminent danger ; 
still commenting on the adventures of the day, 
we threw ourselves, in full uniform, without even 
unbuckling our swords, on the straw which had 
been spread for us in the loft thinking to obtain 
a few hours' sleep — when we heard a heavy foot 
approaching, and our host stood before us, de- 
manding to be paid immediately for the provisions 
he had given us. We assured him that he should 
be paid in the morning, after breakfast — but 
begged he wou.d retire now, as we saw no neces- 
sity for our being disturbed at that hour. 

" Who is to trust to the morrow, in these sore 
times?" he answered, gruffly — "you may be at- 
tacked, and all dead, before morning — no, no, I 
must be paid now ! " 



62 THE CAMPAIGN 

This aroused our suspicions ; and, having got 
rid of his inopportune presence, I ordered the 
outpost to be extremely vigilant, and frequent 
patrols during the night ; which, however, passed 
quietly enough — when, at six o'clock in the 
morning, the outpost announced the appearance 
of a column of infantry and cavalry. The gue- 
rilla bands had mustered in great force, and had 
overtaken us. Ordering the drums to beat the 
alarm, and assemble the troops, I sent one com- 
pany to meet the enemy, and detain them until I 
had taken up a position behind the village ; for I 
could not possibly have defended myself in it. 

It is utterly incomprehensible how much phy- 
sical strength we possessed in the moment of 
danger, of which I had a striking example in my- 
self. Our whole private and military baggage, 
packed in waggons, stood in the middle of the 
village, the front towards the enemy, who was fast 
approaching, and the horses not even put to the 
first waggon, which, conveying my private baggage 
and £600 of the Government money, was the most 
important to save. Seeing there was not a mo- 
ment to lose, I rushed forward, and, without any 
assistance, turned the heavily-packed vehicle round 



IN HUNGARY. O^ 

by the pole as if it had been a mere toy, and, beck- 
oning to the drivers of the two foremost horses, 
who were being trotted up with premeditated 
slowness by the peasant, I ordered them to be put 
to, and desiring my two servants, Albert and 
Francis, to mount, with strict injunctions not to 
let it fall into the hands of the enemy, and to 
shoot the peasants if they refused to proceed, I 
bade them apply the whip to the horses, who 
galloped off at full speed, followed shortly by the 
rest of the baggage. 

Before J refer to the skirmish itself, I must re- 
late the bravery and presence of mind of my 
servants. They had not proceeded far, when the 
hussars, who had probably received an intimation 
from the inhabitants, of the removal of the wag- 
gons, overtook them, having cautiously availed 
themselves of a circuitous route round the village. 
The peasant to whom the horses belonged, relaxed 
his pace, on seeing the hussars coming towards 
them, and said with a malicious grin, " You had 
better say "Elljiu Kossuth." 

" Rascal !" exclaimed Albert — " I suspected you 
before" — and, taking one of my pistols out of the 
case, he threatened to shoot him on the spot un- 



64 THE CAMPAIGN 

less he put his horses into a gallop ; by a strange 
coincidence, he had scarcely spoken the words* 
when a shot from the enemy pierced the hat of the 
peasant, who, believing my servant to have fired* 
applied the whip with a loud curse ; but the pea- 
sant's horses could not be expected to cope with 
the spirited steeds on which the hussars were 
mounted, and the first, already by the side of the 
waggon, raised his sabre to cut down Albert, who, 
on his knees, with one hand on the edge of the 
cart, aimed at the hussar, and so well, that he for- 
tunately shot him under the arm ; he had scarcely 
fallen from his horse, when a second hussar, with 
a bassamalike at his comrade's death, let his sabre 
fall heavily on the hands of Albert, who, thus dis- 
abled, dropped the pistol ; but Francis, unsheath- 
ing my sword-sabre, which lay in the waggon, gave 
the hussar so severe a cut across the face, that he 
reeled in his saddle, and lost ground ; the third, 
seeing two to one, gave up the pursuit, and my 
baggage, with the Imperial money, was thus saved 
by the intrepidity of my two servants. 

At the commencement of the action, I warned 
my two Lublo prisoners, who, it will be remem- 
bered, were convicted of having attempted to 



IN HUNGARY. 65 

seduce some of my recruits, that any attempt to 
escape would prove their death-warrant ; and, in 
their presence, gave strict injunctions to the guards 
to watch them with the utmost vigilance, and 
show no mercy if they endeavoured to join the 
enemy. The prisoners listened sullenly, and made 
no reply. Shortly after this, my attention was 
attracted by a shot, and, looking in the direction, 
I saw that the two prisoners had succeeded in 
breaking from the guards, who called upon them 
to halt, three times : but the fugitives increased 
their speed for all answer, seeing wh'ch the 
soldiers fired, and both fell dead to the ground. 
There was no help for it, — they bad been suf- 
ficiently warned, and it was an imperative duty on 
my part, to prevent their joining the enemy, to 
whom they could have given important infor- 
mation. 

In the meantime, the enemy had opened his 
fire along the line, developing his superior strength. 
He sent circuitous columns to the right and left 
with a view of cutting off my retreat across the 
Magyura mountains, in which I baffled him by my 
original plan of deserting the village at the com- 
mencement of the action ; whilst Captain Bohur, 



6Q 



THE CAMPAIGN 



who fought with great valour against superior 
numbers, detained the enemy until I had taken 
up an advantageous position behind the village, 
and was enabled to accept his challenge, as soon as 
I had gained the summit of some rising ground, 
which enabled me to remain on the defensive, un- 
til Captain Bohur had retreated from the village, 
with inconsiderable loss, and placed himself on my 
right wing. I then hoped to obtain an advantage 
over the enemy, by a successful assault, and 
to compel him to retreat into the -village, where I 
perceived that my right flank was threatened by 
a strong body of insurgents, who had suddenly 
appeared on a wooded hill with the intention of 
attacking me on that side By this skilful ma- 
noeuvre on their part, I was compelled to retire 
about 200 paces, but immediately sent Lieutenant 
Kleiv with a section towards the enemy to cover 
my right wing. The enemy, encouraged by this 
retrograde movement, reinforced his attacking line 
and opened a smart fire on my centre (whereby I 
lost my horse) thus hoping to make me waver; but 
a second assault on my side paralyzed his actions, 
without yet being productive of any favourable 
result beyond that of maintaining my position for 



IN HUNGARY. 67 

a short time, nor could aught else be expected, as 
a force of 500 men could not possibly gain any ad- 
vantage over one of 2,200. All that I could hope 
to accomplish was an honourable retreat with the 
least possible loss. In this I succeeded, having 
taken my third position on an extremely advan- 
tageous point on the Magyura mountains, I forced 
the enemy to retreat to Winschensdorf, after an 
obstinate fight, whilst I proceeded on my march to 
the Gallician frontier by Altendorf, which I reached 
without being further molested by the enemy. 

My loss was comparatively trifling ; whilst that 
of the enemy was more serious. I could see quite 
plainly, by means of a telescope, that he carried 
his wounded away in eight waggons. I had only 
one killed, five wounded, and thirteen missing. 
Amongst my wounded was Count Szirmay, the 
Imperial Courier, who had received a shot in his 
leg, and must have been made prisoner, if I had 
not fortunately seen him stagger about a hundred 
yards from me. Hurrying to his assistance, I 
took him under the arm, and giving him into the 
charge of two soldiers, desired them to place him 
beyond the reach of the balls, which were every 
where falling around us. They succeeded most 



68 THE CAMPAIGN 

miraculously in carrying him to the mountains, 
where his wound was bandaged ; and, placing 
him on one of the baggage -waggons, fortunately 
within reach of the soldiers, proceeded with him 
to Szromovce, a Gallician village. They were 
subsequently rewarded for their bravery on that 
occasion, with the silver medal. 

Count S would have fared but ill, if he 

had fallen into the hands of the Hungarians, 
having made himself obnoxious by his stedfast 
loyalty, which won for him his Majesty's favour; 
he having at the outbreak of the revolution, levied 
a battalion of volunteers on his estate, near 
Eperies, which he placed at the disposal of the 
Emperor. But, when the Imperial troops were 
compelled to evacuate that distiict, the Hungarians 

confiscated his property ; and Count S found 

himself almost without pecuniary resources. He 
was then compelled to take the Countess with 
him, but at last managed to bring her safely to 
Vienna ; her life being constantly endangered. 
When his Majesty was made acquainted with her 
arrival, and the circumstances which compelled 
her to seek refuge in the capital, he ordered a suit 
of apartments to be prepared for her reception, in 



IN HUNGARY. 69 

the Imperial residence at Schonbmnn, where this 
lady resided during the campaign. 

The well-directed fire of the insurgents spared 
me, though I had some narrow escapes ; two balls 
I found lodged in my cloak, and my poor horse 
was, as I have observed, shot under me, for which 
I was very sorry. The soldier always becomes 
more or less attached to an animal who has borne 
his rider through many a danger. As some con- 
solation for my loss, five carriages, and several 
horses of the enemy, fell into our hands. 

I cannot understand why the Magyars did not, 
on that occasion, turn their numerical superiority 
to better advantage ; for, had their leaders been 
more skilful soldiers, they must have either an- 
nihilated my corps, or made every one of us pri- 
soners. Whether to attribute their glaring over- 
sights to bad generalship, or want of courage, it 
would be hard to determine ; but let us judge as 
soldiers, and take the former for granted. Their 
guns, which carried pretty far, were of first-rate 
Liege manufacture. They could, therefore, be 
manoeuvred to my destruction at a considerable 
distance. 

I have every reason to thank God that I came 



70 THE CAMPAIGN 

out of this sanguinary affair, without having been 
even wounded, or, what would be worse than all, 
made prisoner, which each dreaded more than 
death, from the day that we heard of the dreadful 

death of Count C , Major of the Light 

Cavalry Regiment, Emperor Francis Joseph. 

I cannot refrain from giving the particulars of 
his death, as it will prove the falsity of the asser- 
tions set forth by Hungarian agents, that the 
insurgents were ever most humane towards the 
captured, The reader may judge from the follow- 
ing statement what credit they deserve for treating 
their prisoners with kindness. 

Major Count Concoreggio, a most distinguished 
officer, engaged in the battle fought at Kaschau 
on the 11th December, 1848, fell wounded from 
his horse. This being perceived by the enemy, 
the Polish legion rushed towards the defenceless 
man, and with savage yells of joy, unworthy of can- 
nibals, beat him to death, some with the butt-ends 
of their guns, others with the flat of their swords. 
The civilized barbarians, not thinking this sufficient 
torture, scooped out the eyes of the unhappy offi- 
cer, still quivering in his death-struggle. 

Was it astonishing, that, shuddering at the 



IN HUNGARY. 71 

recollection of such barbarity, we preferred death 
to falling into their hands ? If each officer in the 
Austrian army were to commit to paper the 
numberless atrocities individually witnessed, the 
vaunted humanity of the insurgent army would 
rest on a very feeble foundation. Could anything 
else be expected when we know that the refuse 
of every nation was admitted joyfully into the 
ranks of the Hungarian army. And even though 
a criminal who had narrowly escaped the gallows, 
he would still have been received with open arms, 
for, provided his cry was " Elljiu Kossuth" his 
vices and misdeeds became virtues. 

Gorgey and Klapka were the only humane 
insurgent Generals who, it must be acknowledged, 
treated the prisoners according to the rules of 
civilized warfare, and, as far as it lay in their power, 
never permitted them to receive ill-treatment, and 
even invited the officers to their table. Gorgey 's 
humanity was proverbial, and the following anec- 
dote proves his natural goodness of heart. 

An Austrian captain, whose name has escaped 
my memory, had the misfortune to be mortally 
wounded, and made prisoner during one of the hot 
battles in Upper Hungary, in tie month of January. 



72 THE CAMPAIGN 

Gorgey hurried to him after the engagement, re- 
commended him to the special care of the best 
surgeon, and finally asked him whether he could 
do anything for him ; upon which the dying man 
expressed a wish once more to see his wife, who 
resided at Eperies. Gorgey wrote immediately 
to F. M. L. Count Schlick, and, acquainting him 
with the circumstance,begged that the captain's wish 
might be fulfilled. Count Schlick complied with 
the request, and took that opportunity of thanking 
Gorgey for his humane treatment of the prisoners. 
This was related to me by an officer of our regi- 
ment who had also been captured, and was the 
bearer of the letter alluded to. 

Another fine trait of Gorgey 's was his generous 
treatment of General Baron Gotz, who was mor- 
tally wounded at the battle of Waitzen on the 10th 
April, 1849. This hero was struck on the head 
by a ball whilst on the bridge, and in the act of 
commanding an attack. He fell from his horse 
immediately, and must have been trampled to 
death if some of his officers had not passed by, 
and, conveying him to the nearest house, recom- 
mended him to the care of the landlord. When 
Gorgey was informed of this after the engagement, 



IN HUNGARY. 



73 



he at ones repaired to the general, and treated him 
up to the moment of his death with every attention 
in his power, and by his orders he was buried with 
all the military honours due to his rank, and the 
will sent by two parliamentaries to our out- 
posts. 

What a pity Gorgey was a rebel, since, possessed 
of a highly-cultivated mind and of great military 
abilities, he might have rendered essential service 
to his country had he remained loyal to his lawful 
sovereign ! 

* * * * 

Previously to closing my account of the action 
at Winschensdorf, I must relate an incident which 
occurred during that engagement, and which ex- 
cited my hilarity notwithstanding the danger of the 
hour. At the moment of my being surrounded, when 
my position was most critical, the enemy threaten- 
ing to cut off our retreat, I became aware that some 
paper was being torn in my immediate vicinity, 
and, on turning round, beheld the Imperial courier 
occupied in tearing up an important dispatch, and, 
so anxious was he, lest any fragment of it should 
fall into the hands of the enemy, in the event of 
his being made prisoner, as he apprehended, that 

E 



74 THE CAMPAIGN 

he crammed one piece after the other into his 
mouth. 

" What on earth are you about ?" I inquired. 

" Why, captain," he replied, " it is better to be 
sure than sorry ; if they make a prisoner of me, 
and now torture or kill me, it is quite indifferent 
to me, since the important dispatch confided to my 
care is in safety." 

It was undoubtedly in safety ; but, when the 
danger was over, we laughed considerably, and he 
with us at the indigestible dejeuner devoured with 
such avidity. 

Having attended to my poor wounded soldiers, 
I gave the necessary orders relative to our? march- 
ing to Altendorf, since the animosity of the Win- 
schensdorf inhabitants towards Imperial, troops 
was sufficiently evinced by their firing from the 
windows on the company under the command of 
Captain Bohur, whom I had sent to meet the 
enemy. The conduct of the host, and the well- 
timed attack made upon me by the enemy, who 
seemed to have been thoroughly acquainted 
with my movements, made it quite obvious that 
they had received ample information, and that I 
was surrounded by spies and traitors, in league 
with the Lublo and Kesemark rebels. 



IN HUNGARY. < O 

All these circumstances combined, rendered it 
absolutely necessary that I should return to the 
Gallician frontier, and endeavour to join General 
Benedek by another route. I therefore proceeded 
at once on my march thither by Altendorf, which 
I reached without being disturbed by the enemy, 
and there I determined to grant my troops a short 
rest, availing myself of that opportunity to acquaint 
the officers with my next intended movement. 
Having decided on leaving a party in command of 
an officer at Altendorf for observation, I repaired 
in person with the main body of my troops to 
Szromovce, about half -an-hour's march from Alten- 
dorf, on the left bank of the Dunajee, 

There I found a company of the loyal Hungarian 
regiment, Count Leiningen, guarding the frontier. 
Although not personally acquainted with any of 
the officers, they welcomed me most warmly, assur- 
ing me that, from the account given them by Count 
Szirmay, who had passed through, and as I heard 
was suffering greatly from his wounds, that they 
looked upon me as lost, his own conviction being 
that, as I could not possibly cope with a force so 
much greater than my own, I must either be 
annihilated or taken prisoner, and they were there- 

e 2 



76 THE CAMPAIGN 

fore doubly delighted to see me. The spies whom 
I sent out immediately on my arrival, brought me 
word that the insurgents, who had received con- 
siderable reinforcements, intended fortifying the 
Magyura pass ; and, if possible, to destroy the 
bridge which had been thrown across the Dunajee 
for the use of the Russian auxiliary troops expected 
to arrive every day, and that they purposed to 
attack me the next morning. Their force was 
estimated at 10,000 men ; I, of course, decided at once 
to defend the pass; for this purpose, I immediately 
caused entrenchments to be thrown up as the best 
means of frustrating the enemy's attempt to render 
the temporary bridge unavailable. But it was not 
easy to accomplish this work, the two villages 
Szromovce and Altendorf being situated in a 
valley of the Carpathian mountains, to which troops 
could readily gain access under cover of the sur- 
rounding woods, unperceived from either place. 
It was, therefore, extremely easy to surprise me, 
which I could only guard against by the utmost 
caution. 

The Hungarians, being aware of the advantages 
that accrue from a surprise where the adversary is 
unprepared, made it their favourite manoeuvre 



IN HUNGARY. 77 

whenever an opportunity offered. This is one of 
the reasons why it was absolutely necessary that 
the Austrian army should act with the utmost 
circumspection, and observe more than usual 
caution, since the slightest negligence in out- 
post service or otherwise was immediately punished 
by an unforeseen attack of the insurgent army, for 
the leaders, being accurately informed of the 
movements made by the smallest detachment of 
the Austrian army, within the shortest time, were 
enabled to adopt measures which often proved a 
great impediment to the mobility of our troops. 

On the evening of my arrival at Szromovce, I 
had made a report to F. M. L. Baron Hamner- 
stein, Commander-in-Chief of Gallicia, stating the 
reasons which had compelled me to retreat to the 
frontier, as well as the difficulties with which I 
had to contend, and finally reported the absolute 
necessity of my remaining at Szromovce, to de- 
fend the pass until relieved by other troops, as I 
considered the point too important to abandon. 
His Excellency's reply was, to defend it at any 
cost, and to the last man, rather than let it fall 
into the hands of the enemy ; and, empowering 
me to act as I thought circumstances demanded. 



78 THE CAMPAIGN 

In the meantime, aided by the peasantry, I for- 
tified the pass with uninterrupted activity. 

The most necessary trenches had only just 
been completed, when the frequent appearance 
of hussars, probably reconnoitring patrols, be- 
tokened the enemy's approach. Prepared to 
receive them, I hastened to the Company of 
Leiningen Infantry placed under my command, 
and addressing the men, who were mostly Tran- 
sylvanians, in their own language, which I was 
fortunately well acquainted with, I bade them 
remember their oath to the Austrian Colours, 
and the allegiance they owed to his Majesty the 
Emperor, and concluded my speech by saying 
that I felt convinced, they would not abuse the 
confidence I placed in them, or disgrace their 
uniform by becoming traitors. An enthusiastic 
cheer for the Emperor was the answer to my 
appeal ; its sincerity giving me the assurance that 
I could trust them as well as the Magyars, who 
had joined so loudly in the hurrah. I was not 
disappointed, for they behaved with undaunted 
bravery. 

I then reconnoitred from an elevated spot of 
ground which commanded the country around, 



IN HUNGARY. 79 

and, with the aid of my telescope, soon made out 
the enemy. But what was my astonishment to 
see the Mayor of Altendorf, to whom I had given 
the strictest orders to acquaint me with the ap- 
proach of the insurgents (and prohibited on pain 
of death, from holding any communication with 
the enemy ) engaged in earnest conversation with 
two insurgent officers on horseback ! By his 
gesticulations, I could see that he was informing 
them of my exact position, and the strength of 
my troops, after which he parted from them in 
somewhat friendly terms, and by a circuitous road 
strolled over the bridge, as if he were admiring 
the beauties of nature, 

It may be supposed, that, anxious to be the 
first to hear what he had to say, I hastened to 
meet him: for, after all, chance might have 
brought him into collision with the enemy, who 
had perhaps forced him to betray me ; if so, he 
would, of course, give me an account of what had 
occurred. I accosted him with assumed indiffer- 
ence, saying calmly, "What news? Have you 
seen or heard anything of the enemy ? " 

" No," replied he, carelessly. " You may be 
quite at your ease : I know nothing of the enemy 



80 THE CAMPAIGN 

but I came to ask how much meat and wine you 
require to-morrow for your troops ?" 

" So, that is your errand," I resumed, giving 
him one more chance. " You have no important 
information to give me ? " 

" None," he replied, with a perceptible tremour 
in his voice, this time. 

" Look at this telescope, traitor, and tremble, 
for know that from the top of yonder mountain 
I witnessed your interview with the insurgent 
officers, who are approaching with a column and 
intend taking me by surprise, thanks to the in- 
formation you have given them of my strength 
and position, for which culpable treachery, I shall 
send you to New Sandee, this very day, where 
you shall meet with the punishment awarded by 
martial law to spies. 

Upon this, the traitor, falling on his knees, gave 
me a detailed and accurate account of the enemy's 
intentions, unasked, hoping thus to obtain his 
pardon. I reminded him of the warning I had 
given him on entering the village, not to tamper 
with the enemy if he valued his life. Whereupon, 
I told him he must take the consequences of his 
folly, and, as soon as the necessary arrangements 



IN HUNGARY. 81 

were completed, I sent him with an escort to 
Sandee. 

Whilst I had been thus engaged, the leader of 
the Guerillas, awaiting some signal from the 
faithless Mayor, who was already a prisoner in 
the guard-house, had approached with some of his 
officers. I was not a little astonished to see him 
gradually appear on an elevated ground, and look 
about cautiously with a telescope, whereupon I 
made use of mine. Our eyes met, and we very 
civilly saluted each other. In the meantime, 
several officers joined me, to whom I pointed out 
the group. The leader of the Guerillas perceiving 
us took off his plumed hat, and the faint sound of 
" Elljiu Kossuth," was borne to us by the evening 
breeze, echoed by many voices, upon which we 
waved our tschaikos, and responded to the call 
by Es lebe brock* our Emperor Francis Joseph. 
Soon after this, the surrounding heights were 
crowned by the enemy's forces, who were display- 
ing their strength, with evident intentions of 
commencing an attack, although they restricted 
themselves during an entire day, to petty skir- 
mishes, in which I lost several excellent soldiers. 

* Long life to. 

E S 



82 THE CAMPAIGN 

At dusk, however, the enemy seemed seriously 
inclined to take to the offensive, and approach the 
well-guarded banks of the river, with the intention 
of setting fire to the bridge. Guessing the ob- 
ject which this detachment had in view, I sent 
a party to threaten them in the flank, whilst I 
opened a smart fire on their front. The skirmish- 
ing was kept up with considerable obstinacy on 
both sides, for several hours. The Guerillas 
stood their ground firmly : at length, however, 
some of our shots must have told well, for I heard 
a voice from the opposite shore exclaim in German, 
" Herr* Captain let us retreat ere it is too late, 
our loss is already considerable," and shortly after, 
they retired hastily, without disturbing us further. 
The next morning, I received a report that an 
insurgent corps, consisting of 500 rifle sharp- 
shooters, was approaching, with the apparent in- 
tention of attacking me again. My troops were 
quickly at their posts, and the military points 
were occupied, whilst the enemy stealthily ap- 
proached, and at last came within shot, upon 
which I opened my fire. Our first volley deprived 
the enemy of an officer and two privates. The 

. * Monsieur. 



IN HUNGARY. 



83 



insurgents kept up their fire nearly the whole 
day, without doing me any serious injury, not- 
withstanding that their excellent muskets carried 
a distance of six hundred paces ! 

I held the pass for about a fortnight, and 
during that period was subject to frequent attacks 
on the part of the enemy, which compelled me 
to send out constant patrols, with a view of 
observing their movements, and frustrating their 
designs. 

Unable to profit by the shelter of the village 
in our immediate vicinity, I was forced to en- 
camp, and expose my harassed troops to the in- 
clemency of the weather. 

As matters stood, I could not obtain a mo- 
ment's rest myself; for, besides my military occu- 
pations, my time was taken up by the constant 
arrival of couriers and estafettes, who came every 
hour of the day to obtain information from me 
as to the stations of the different troops in Hun- 
gary, which it was not in my power to give, as I 
had been compelled to retreat. 

For many reasons, I naturally looked forward 
with anxiety to the arrival of the Russian troops, 
who were advancing fast, and at last I was 



84 THE CAMPAIGN 

agreeably surprised by the unexpected appearance 

of Captain H , of the Fiirstemvarther Infantry, 

who served as a guide to the Russian corps under 
the command of General Baron Saas, already 
stationed at Spitkouru, and came to obtain accu- 
rate information as to the strength and position 
of the insurgents, who were reported to be sta- 
tioned in the Zips. I sent spies and patrols to 
reconnoitre, from whom I ascertained that an in- 
ferior force had taken up a position in the Magyura 
mountains ; but excepting those, the country was 
clear, owing perhaps to the rapid approach of the 
Russians. 

Captain H left Szromovce the next day, 

and shortly after I received an order to break up 
on the 17th, and march to Bielitz, where I 
should find the brigade stationed. I therefore 
sent Lieutenant Count Nys on the 16th, with 
a detachment, to regulate quarters ; and, on the 
17th, at one o'clock in the morning, I left 
Szromovce with my division. It had been rain- 
ing up to midnight ; the roads were, therefore, 
in a dreadful state, and not favoured by the moon ; 
we waded through the mud in the dark. 

About ten miles from Szromovce, a horseman 



IN HUNGARY. 85 

overtook me in full gallop. It was an estafette 
from head-quarters with a dispatch, which it was 
impossible to read, the night being so intensely- 
dark, and not a house to be found where I could 
obtain a light. Fortunately, one of my corporals 
had matches about him, which he lighted, and, 
taking off his tschako, made a lantern of it, and 
thus I was enabled to read the dispatch. It con- 
tained an order to remain at Szromovce until the 
arrival of Russian troops. I returned to Szromovce, 
not over-pleased, but sent a messenger to Count 
Nys, with instructions to remain at Neumar- 
ket, which he had already reached, and repair 
to Spitkowiee, the head-quarters of the Russian 
corps, for the purpose of acquainting the Russian 
General Baron Saas, that I awaited with anxiety, 
to be relieved by his troops at Szromovce, in 
order to be able to join my regiment. His 
reply was, that he could not comply with my 
request at present. Nor was it necessary, 
since the enemy had, to all appearance, retired into 
the interior of the country. 

This report I then sent to head-quarters, and, 
on the 20th of May, I once more received an 
order to re-enter Hungary, and join the Brigade 



86 



THE CAMPAIGN 



of General Barco, now at Czaga, that of General 
Benedek being already too far advanced in the 
interior of the country to render my reaching him 
practicable. My orders were, to draw money in 
(New Sandee) Gallicia, for my men, when I 
should receive final instructions. My division, 
therefore, preceded me to Sucho, whilst I repaired 

to New Sandee, where I met with Count S y, 

whose wound had not yet permitted him to pro- 
ceed. He told me that Sandee was filled with 
families from Upper Hungary, who had been com- 
pelled to fly, owing to the reign of terror brought 
about by the Kossuth faction. 

Count S y invited me to dinner, and took 

that opportunity of introducing several Hunga- 
rians of distinction tome, who complained bitterly 
of the arrogance, as well as the despotism of the 
Provisional Government, and assured me that it 
was with difficulty they succeeded in escaping 
with their lives. 

I left Sandee at six o'clock the next morning, 
and reached Sucho, where my division awaited 
me. 



IN HUNGARY. 87 



CHAPTER V. 

The Cossack Troops — The Russian Cavalry — Seibusch — 
A Day's Gaiety — A Night's Bivouac at Czaga — Arrival 
at the Camp near Budatin — The Castle of Budatin — 
Attack on the Castle — Its Defence and Destruction — 
Sillein — The Cholera — Arrival of Two Cossacks at the 
Camp — Reconnoitring Expedition— A Dinner Party of 
Thirteen — Scenes in the Camp at Budatin — My de- 
parture. 

My way now lying through Gallicia by Neu- 
mark and Seibusch, we were out of the enemy's 
reach, it was once more permitted to us to indulge 
in the luxury of a good room, and soft bed, which 
seemed doubly delightful after having been de- 
prived of these comforts so long. The friendly 
welcome we received everywhere was not less 
pleasing. 

In marching through Gallicia, I had an oppor- 
tunity of seeing the Russian troops. The Cos- 



88 THE CAMPAIGN 

sacks, the vanguard of all Russian troops, were 
the first I met. Their horses are generally small, 
thin, and insignificant-looking, but most enduring. 
The saddles are extremely plain, and of coarse 
workmanship. The uniform of the rider is a 
blue short coat, trousers of the same colour, 
drawn tight at the ancle, a long grey cloak, 
which is worn by the Russian army in general, 
and boots without spurs. The Cossack is well 
armed, having an Asiatic sabre by his side, and 
a long gun, well protected by a case, which hangs 
across his shoulders. In front of his saddle are a 
pair of pistols, as well as a very long pike, or 
lance ; and in his right hand he has the kamts- 
chuck, a Russian short whip. 

The Cossacks, whose appearance is extremely 
martial, will endure incredible hardships, and are 
untiring in pursuit of the enemy, whom they will 
worry unceasingly ; indefatigable, they give them 
not a moment's respite, and alarming them con- 
stantly reduce them to despair. But they would 
be less useful in an assault ; wherefore, their ser- 
vice is confined to important patrols, daring expe- 
ditions that often approach the fabulous, to seek 
and spy out the enemy at a marvellous distance. A 



IN HUNGARY. 89 

first-rate rider, trie Cossack is completely master 
of his horse, for which he entertains the greatest 
affection ; and, by bestowing every care and atten- 
tion on it can do almost anything he pleases with 
the sagacious animal. 

In the course of the campaign, I had manifold 
opportunities of admiring the extraordinary skill 
and agility of the Cossack : many artists perform- 
ing at Astley's might envy the Russian equestrian 
for a talent which seems innate. To hit a mark 
at full gallop, or to take up a handkerchief, or 
pipe, from the ground, with the point of the lance 
is nothing unusual. He trains his horse to answer 
his call like a dog; and, when on outpost- 
service, leaves it free to graze, provided the dis- 
tance of the enemy permits of his doing so. 
When he wishes to mount, he simply whistles, 
and the faithful creature gallops up to him, like 
the most obedient spaniel. 

As the Cossack finds the most insignificant things 
useful, he takes all that comes in his way, accord- 
ing to the rules of warfare, and places it between 
the blanket and the saddle ; his acquisitions thus 
increase the height of his saddle, in proportion to 
the length of his absence from home. This 



90 THE CAMPAIGN 

singular mode of conveying his booty that often 
accumulates, until it is impossible for him to mount, 
has a very comical appearance. His horse, trained 
purposely, kneels down at his master's command, 
to allow him to mount, and quietly awaits the 
signal given with the kamtschuck to gallop away. 

The cavalry attest the opulency of Russia as 
respects horses ; for instance, I met the Radetzky 
Hussars on white chargers ; then a lancer regiment 
on black, and the same with the artillery, every 
battery being drawn by horses of the same colour. 
Their appointments are excellent, their horses 
magnificent, and the conformity of their uniforms 
and accoutrements is observable in the minutest 
details. The cavalry regiments are composed of 
robust athletic men, full of life and energy. The 
infantry looked less healthy, and had a care-worn 
appearance, which was perhaps attributable to the 
extremely long and fatiguing marches made by 
these troops from the remotest parts of Russia. 

The Russian is an excellent soldier, stands un- 
moved in the hottest fire, and endures every species 
of fatigue with the greatest equanimity. 

My next station was Seibusch, a neat little town 
belonging to the Archduke Albrecht in the Car- 



IN HUNGARY. 91 

pathian Mountains, and surrounded by beautiful 
scenery. 

The palace and grounds are very prettily 
situated, and we were not a little delighted to find 
the Regiment Deutchmeister on its way to join 
the Imperial troops in Hungary. I heartily shook 
by the hand many of the officers with whom I 
was personally acquainted, and an affectionate 
Griisse duh gott was heard from all sides. The 
Regiment Deutchmeister, composed mostly of 
Viennese, is proverbial for wit, good humour, and 
gaiety. From them we heard, that the band 
would revive our drooping spirits by a few re- 
miniscences of Strauss if we came to the Park, 
which we promised to do, and, an hour later, the 
Winschensdorf rebels had not recognised their 
enemy, in the officers standing in groups round 
the music, each relating his adventures, some of 
which were ludicrous enough ; and, whenever a 
pause occurred in the orchestra, many a loud laugh 
was heard. 

Some of our young officers had managed to 
make themselves smart enough, notwithstanding 
the various misfortunes that had already befallen 
our uniform, and impaired our general neat appear- 



92 THE CAMPAIGN 

ance. They seemed quite to forget the imminent 
danger we had so lately escaped, in the sweet 
smiles lavished upon them by the fair beauties of 
Seibusch, and its vicinity, who appeared on the 
occasion. The sincere welcome we received at 
the hands of the inhabitants, who vied with each 
other in procuring every sort of comfort for us, 
as well as for the men, was truly gratifying. 

Anxious to grant my harassed troops some rest, 
and give them time to repair their clothing, and 
appointments, which had already suffered lament- 
ably, particularly the former, I remained two 
days, and then, after a considerable march, crossed 
the Hungarian frontier, for the second time, by 
Czaga, a Sclavonian village situated in the 
Carpathian Mountains. 

The rain was coming down in torrents, which 
did not improve our white uniforms. We found 
the mountain roads in a dreadful state, partly 
owing to the weather, but more particularly to 
the ingenuity of the insurgents, who had broken 
the road at short intervals, and, although the 
troops that had preceded us had evidently repaired 
it hastily, in order to facilitate their march, the 
way was yet bad enough. I encamped outside 



IN HUNGARY. 93 

Czaga, placed the necessary videttes, and our sol- 
diers having lighted a fire, we sate round it, and 
commenced drawing on our provisions, but more 
particularly on the bottle-case, which I had taken 
care to fill with good wine in Seibusch, and, not- 
withstanding the rain and other disagreeables, we 
officers contrived to enjoy ourselves. 

It is scarcely possible to conceive anything 
more uncomfortable than to sit thoroughly 
drenched under a continual shower of rain, which 
threatened to put out the fire, at the side of which 
we had hoped if not to warm, at least to dry our- 
selves. But habit is everything — this was not 
our first bivouac, and we soon accustomed our- 
selves to this, as well as to other discomforts. He 
must indeed be a bad soldier who cannot content 
himself, when plentifully supplied with provisions, 
and this being the case with us there, we were 
gay, and sat over our mulled wine till late at 
night, enlivened by many a good story of olden 
times. Midnight was long past, ere I wrapped 
myself close by the camp-fire in my bunda, lis- 
tening to the cry of our outposts as they challenged 
the patrol in their rounds through the sleepless 
night. 



94 THE CAMPAIGN 

Towards morning, the rain having gradually 
ceased, we resumed our march, much refreshed, 
and consequently in high spirits, through the beau- 
tiful Kiszytha valley to Budatin, where we found 
the brigade of General Bario encamped, under 
whose command I was placed with my troops till 
further orders. General Baron Bario is a native 
of Hungary, full of energy and valour ; he re- 
ceived me in the most friendly manner, reviewed 
my troops, and I then by his order encamped near 
the artillery. 

Budatin, which lies at the confluence of the 
Kiszytha, and the Waag, is an insignificant village, 
belonging to Count Czaky, whose splendid castle 
and park are now laid waste. I might have 
looked with sadness at the ruin if I did not know 
that its owner a rebel, had himself in the month 
of November besieged it from the opposite shore, 
and destroyed the building when in possession of 
our troops. As the castle had been taken by 
the first battalion of our regiment under the com- 
mand of Colonel F n, some interesting details 

were furnished me by those of my fellow officers 
who were more fortunate than myself in being en- 
gaged in that action. 



IN HUNGARY. 95 

It was about four o'clock on the 10th of No- 
vember, that Colonel F n advanced, and at- 
tacked the enemy, who thought himself perfectly 
secure behind his entrenchments and fences. After 
some resistance, our battalion took possession of 
the castle, and forced the enemy to retreat across 
the wooden bridge which he set fire to, and then 
taking a firm position on the banks of the Waag, 
Count Czaky ordered the castle to be bombarded, 
sparing neither the grounds nor the building. 

When our troops entered the interior of the 
castle, they found a table laid for forty, and a very 
sumptuous fare awaiting only the guests ; it was 
evident that the enemy had intended sitting down 
to dinner when the attack commenced, and thus 
the proverb, " It is an ill wind that blows nobody 
good " was verified, for our troops, tired from the 
tedious march, and hungry after long fasting, sate 
down, and not even the occasional entry of a 
cannon-ball could disturb them in their occu- 
pation. 

A suite of apartments splendidly furnished, 
were open, each bearing traces of the comforts so 
recently enjoyed. The folding-doors opening 
from one room into the other showed, here, an 



96 THE CAMPAIGN 

open escritoire, a table strewed with papers, evi- 
dently the Count's study, some books, and a piano. 
My fellow officers assured me, that it was with a 
painful feeling they witnessed this wholesale des- 
truction : one piece of splendid furniture after 
the other ; here the painting of a Reubens, there, 
an etagere with Sevres china shattered by cannon- 
balls. The most elegantly-furnished apartment 
was the Countess's boudoir, which was completely 
destroyed by a grenade that made its way through 
a suite of rooms, burst there, and caused sad havoc ; 
a beautiful framed looking glass, then several 
etageres containing valuable rococo ornaments, 
large expensive porcelain vases were in an instant 
shattered into a thousand pieces. 

Our troops behaved admirably on this occasion, 
although the enemy's force consisted of four bat- 
talions and eight cannons, far superior to that at 
the command of our colonel, who had only four 
companies and three rockets ; he yet drove them 
from their entrenchments, out of the castle, 
and forced them across the bridge, which, having 
been set fire to, and our troops being too inferior 

in number to pursue them further, Colonel F -n 

retired, and, in order to deceive the enemy, lighted 



IN HUNGARY. 



97 



watch-fires in the immediate vicinity of the castle. 
This stratagem succeeded completely; cannon 
after cannon, rockets and grenades were sent into 
the deserted castle by its owner ; whilst those for 
whom he intended the murderous balls were al- 
ready far beyond their reach, and, at the distance 
of some English miles, still heard the roar of the 

cannon at Budatin. Colonel F n retired to 

Jablunka, from whence he made a report stating 
the impossibility of following up the advantages 
he had gained, owing to the forces not being suf- 
ficient. 

A brigade was then ordered to advance with a 
view to the security of the valuable gold and silver 
mines of Skemnity and Kremnity, which, lying in 
that direction, it became an object of importance 
to cover. Colonel F n, attached to the bri- 
gade of General Baron Gotz, then took an active 
part in the second attack on this castle in January, 
1849, on which occasion it was burned to the 
ground after a bloody contest. 

A high round tower and the four walls are the 
only remains of the once beautiful castle of Count 
Czaky. I ascended the tower, and in viewing the 
destruction around me, the unavoidable ]esults of 

F 



98 THE CAMPAIGN 

civil warfare, an indescribable sadness stole over 
me, which was only dispelled by the view opening 
upon me suddenly, of the most beautiful mountain 
landscape, between which, and the spot where I 
stood, lay the valley of the Waag ; and I must 
acknowledge, that the enchanting distance made 
me forget for a time, the scene of desolation in 
the foreground. 

On the left bank of the Waag, opposite Budatin, 
lies Sillein, once a pretty little town, but which is 
now partly reduced to ashes, ow T ing to a serious 
political difference on the part of the inhabitants. 

To us the task of maintaining this important 
position was allotted, until the Russian division, 
under general Baron Saas, should have advanced 
sufficiently to relieve us, when we were to con- 
tinue our march on the right bank of the Waag, 
and thus reach Presburg, to join the army operat- 
ing under the immediate command of the Baron 
Haynau. During our stay in the camp of Budatin, 
w r e had the most magnificent weather, notwith- 
standing which, the cholera broke out in its worst 
form, and with fearful violence, carrying off our 
men with alarming rapidity. The devastation 
caused by this epidemic amongst our soldiery, and 



IN HUNGARY. 99 

the loss of some of our most valued comrades, 
acted depressingly on our spirits, which revived 
considerably, when a report was spread through 
the camp, that Cossacks, and most probably the 
advanced posts of the Russians who were to re- 
lieve us, were now in sight. The universal joy 
at this announcement bringing with it the hope 
that we should now leave the camp which had be- 
come a churchyard, cannot be described, and all 
hurried to the spot, from whence they had been 
seen, and true enough, in the direction of Ujfala, 
in the windings of the Kissutga valley, we distin- 
guished two riders, whose well known, high- 
packed saddles, indicated the nature of the force 
that was approaching the camp. 

It proved to be a Gossack Patrol sent with dis- 
patches from general Baron Saas to general Baron 
Barco. On their approach, our soldiers gave a 
loud cheer, and all crowded round the Russians 
with a thousand questions, such as from whence 
they came, how far the Russian camp was distant, 
and so on ? The opinion generally entertained 
of the Cossack is, that he comes immediately 
after the wild Indian, and has no idea of civiliza- 
tion ; I therefore think I am bound injustice to 

f 2 



100 THE CAMPAIGN 

this gallant body to give an account of the 
following scene which may not prove uninter- 
esting. 

General Baron Barco being extremely curious 
to ascertain what degree of civilization these chil- 
dren of the Steppes had arrived at, invited both to 
dinner, placing one on his right and the other on 
his left. We had thus an opportunity of admiring 
the excellent manners, and good tact displayed by 
them, under, as every one must allow, rather trying 
circumstances, such a distinction having probably 
never yet been conferred on the Cossack Patrol. 

During dinner, our General gave a toast to the 
Emperor Nicholas ; the elder of the two Russian 
soldiers replied with a toast to our gracious 
Emperor, Francis Joseph, and, after a moment's 
reflection, proposed a second toast to the Austrian 
army. Both had been given in the most dignified 
manner, and with a degree of politeness that 
quite amazed us. 

The only thing which seemed to embarrass 
them, was when the servants handed the coffee 
round, which they acknowledged never yet to 
have seen, and candidly confessed their igno- 
rance as to how it should be taken, and it even- 



IN HUNGARY. 101 

tually ended in their drinking coffee and wine 
alternately. Cigars, too, were a subject of won- 
der to them, and on these two occasions only, 
their awkwardness elicited a smile from us, for, 
throughout the dinner, their demeanour was such 
that it might serve as a model to many a soi-disant 
gentleman. 

The heat increasing with every day, was not 
calculated to render our bivouacs very agreeable ; 
but, when at last the most exaggerated reports 
which reached us, to the effect that a large insur- 
gent force, consisting of Infantry, Cavalry, and 
Artillery, threatened to attack us in the rear and 
flank, compelled us to remain constantly under 
arms, the exposure to so hot a sun became almost 
intolerable. Alarming as the news was with 
respect to the enemy, we were yet excessively 
annoyed at his non-appearance, and as, notwith- 
standing all the measures adopted, for the purpose 
of ascertaining the whereabouts of the foe, it 
seemed utterly impossible to obtain any certitude 
of his movements, I at last proposed to Count 
Mathew M -y, an Irishman, Major in the Se- 
cond Light Cavalry, and a most distinguished 
officer, that we should undertake a reconnoitring 



102 THE CAMPAIGN 

expedition for the "benefit of the public in gene- 
ral, and our own in particular. 

Having obtained the general's permission, we 
threw off our coats, waistcoats, and neckcloths, 
which would have been insupportable from their 
tight fit* and warm texture, for the heat had 
attained an almost tropical degree of temperature, 
we took our forage caps and swords, mounted 
our horses, and galloped away. We rode for 
miles through the mountains, without seeing a 
soul ; all was still, calm, and beautiful. At length, 
we descried a village, towards which we made, 
hoping to obtain some information, and with a 
view of allaying our thirst. 

We were so strangely accoutred, so unlike 
Austrian officers in our deshabille, that the 
villagers (Sclavonians), did not know what to 
make of us, and, on our addressing them, were 
extremely cautious in answering, being evidently 
uncertain whether we were insurgents, or Impe^ 
rialists. We had recourse to all the diplomacy 
at our command, and put such questions as we 
thought calculated to elicit some sort of decided 
answers with regard to the enemy's movements, 
but we were disappointed, for they replied with 



IN HUNGARY. 103 

either assumed, or real indifference, that they 
could give us no information. We then paid for 
our milk, which had been handed to us b}^ a 
very pretty Sclav onian girl, whose dark eyes and 
long black tresses, as she stood before us, with all 
the pride of her race in her picturesque costume, 
we could not but admire, and, considerably 
refreshed, continued our route, until the setting 
sun compelled us to think of returning to the 
camp. We found the ascent of the mountains 
we had traversed, far easier than the descent 
which in some places was so steep that we dis- 
mounted, thinking it safer to lead our horses. 
More than once, however, we slipped some yards 
and our panting steeds after us. 

At the foot of the mountain, we came upon 
an inviting little stream, which, bubbling past as 
clear as crystal, only made us feel the parching 
thirst we had endured for the last half hour 
more keenly. With the bridle on our arm, we 
stooped to take a reviving draught ; our horses 
too, lowered their heads eagerly, and we threw 
ourselves on the bank of this little rivulet, to 
let them have a drink at their ease. Man and 
horse refreshed, we galloped gaily on, when sud- 



104 THE CAMPAIGN 

denlywe were accosted by the words " Halt wer 
da ! V* Astonished, we looked to the elevated 
ground from whence the voice had spoken; it 
was one of our advanced posts, of whose exis- 
tence we were not even aware, presenting his 
musket ready to fire the very next moment. " We 
are officers from the camp," was our hasty 
reply, for the soldier seemed bent on executing 
his duty to the letter, and shoot us on the spot, 
if we advanced, surveying us from head to foot 
with a glance that shewed he took us for insur- 
gents, which was not astonishing, all things con- 
sidered ; for, in the first place, our appearance 
was not in our favour, and, secondly, we had left 
the camp from a different side. Having, how- 
ever, assured himself that we rode towards the 
camp, and must really be officers, he suffered us 
to pass. 

Our announcement that we had seen and heard 
nothing of the enemy, caused general disappoint- 
ment, whilst we consoled ourselves with the 
splendid scenery which we had an opportunity of 
admiring during our lengthened ride, and certainly 
the view from the different heights we had ascended 
was magnificent. The delightful valley of the Waag 

* Who goes there ? 



IN HUNGARY. 105 

at our feet, the celebrated Turotzer and Rajetzer 
Pass, as awful as it is grand, in the foreground, here 
and there some fine old ruins, former mansions of 
the great, and remnants of the Rakoezy times, 
together with the imposing majestic Carpathian 
mountains in the back-ground, made the picture 
a masterpiece of nature. In gazing on the beau- 
tiful country that lay before us, we regretted 
more deeply than ever to think that it would be 
laid waste by all the horrors of civil war. 

Who has not heard of the prejudice that if 
thirteen sit down to dinner, one of the number is 
doomed to die within a year ? Many I know 
believe in it firmly, others laugh at it without 
venturing to ^pronounce an opinion as to which 
party he thinks the more sensible of the two ; I 
shall simply state a fact that occurred. 

Shortly after my arrival at Budatin, I was 
asked to dine at General Baron Barcos. We had 
all taken our seats, when one of the gentlemen 
remarked that we were thirteen, and alluded to 
the superstition that one of the number would 
die before the year was out. " Well, then," I re- 
plied with a smile, "I shall probably be the victim, 
having sate down last." 

f 3 



106 



THE CAMPAIGN 



This gave rise to numerous anecdotes and jokes 
all referring to that superstition, and none laughed 
more heartily than Lieutenant-Colonel Keller, 
an universal favourite. The subject dropped at 
last, our good stories on that head being exhausted, 
and we soon forgot all about it in the more serious 
topic of future events. Three days afterwards, 
the cholera made its appearance, and the first 
victim was poor Lieutenant-Colonel Keller. Those 
who had been present, and believed in that pre- 
judice, were not a little awed by this singular and 
sad coincidence. 

Our days passed monotonously enough, and we 
should very soon have got heartily tired of our 
mode of life, if the soldiers had not aiForded us 
some amusement. I often wondered at the ex- 
traordinary good spirits of my men, who, not- 
withstanding that the cholera thinned their ranks 
with fearful rapidity, yet originated fresh games 
every day, which never failed to attract the greater 
part of the camp. The soldiers of my division 
particularly, had made themselves conspicuous by 
the novelty of their inventions, and every evening, 
when the excessive heat had somewhat decreased, 
numbers were in the habit of meeting. 



IN HUNGARY. 107 

The most boisterous shouts of laughter were 
always heard when a game called " Fenhsprellen," 
for which the English denomination is blanket 
tossing, was going on ; it consists in this : four men 
each hold a corner of a strong blanket, upon which 
they place a man — and, by stretching the blanket, 
very quickly toss him into the air, and catch him 
alternately, whilst he makes the most comical and 
ludicrous gesticulations in his ascent. 

One day, a very pretty girl unfortunately en- 
tered the circle to look on. She was immediately 
caught and thrown into the blanket, notwithstand- 
ing her protestations. I never remember to have 
laughed so much as when she suddenly appeared 
in the air, exhibiting the funniest attitudes, and 
screaming lustily. The soldiers only gave her 
one toss, and then very gallantly thanked her, 
hoping she would honour them another time with 
her presence. But she went away with a pouting 
lip and a toss of the head, and the next time took 
care not to enter the circle. 

On other occasions, they amused themselves 
with caricature-representations of men on horse- 
back. One would appear disguised as a stork, 
another as an elephant ; in fact, all descriptions of 



108 THE CAMPAIGN 

animals appeared on the stage, one more ludicrous 
than another, Then, a soldier would dress as a 
Staff Officer with a wooden sword, a sash, and 
plume of straw, pretending to survey recruits, 
who,; of course, did every thing wrong purposely, 
upon which the soi-disant General became very 
angry and scolded his aide-de-camp, mounted in 
the same fashion as himself. When the General's 
ire would be at its height, his mutinous horse in- 
variably threw him off to the delight of the 
recruits. 

Thus the evening passed ; at dusk, the soldiers 
tired, sat round the bivouac-fire; shouts of laughter 
still met our ears ; whilst others sang their plain- 
tive native airs with so much feeling that we 
officers often listened till midnight, seated round a 
bright blaze, and waiting for the water to boil, that 
we might make our chai. We often remarked how 
many of the performers that mingled in the chorus 
might have become first-rate singers, if their 
talent were cultivated. 

This innate taste for music is found with the 
Austrian as well as the Bohemian soldiers, and 
singing being their favourite pastime, they become 
self-taught artists. 



IN HUNGARY. 109 

I was quite astonished on one of the evenings 

that I spent with a friend of mine, Baron K r, 

major of Kaiser Ferdinand's Chevaux Legers, to 
hear his soldiers, who were all Austrians, jugling* 
forth their national airs, in imitation of the Tyro- 
leans, who possess that art to perfection. One of 
his men, too, who had never been instructed in 
music, most successfully composed a song in 
honour of Count Schlick, who it is well known, is 
adored by the army, and sang it amidst the cheers 
of his comrades. It was a gay life after all, and 
we should have enjoyed many a happy hour 
were it not for that dreadful epidemic, which 
often appeared so unexpectedly, that the gay 
song was interrupted by the ghastly visitor, and 
perhaps, before morning dawned, those who had 
been gayest that evening lay in a cold grave. 
There was scarcely a day when thirty or forty 
did not fall victims to the cholera. 

On the 9th of June, I received an order to 
quit the camp at Budatin with my division, 
and march along the right bank of the Waag 
by Presburg to Kroatich Kimling, where I 

* A peculiar way of singing. 



110 THE CAMPAIGN 

should find my regiment. I therefore broke up 
the next morning, the 10th of June, after having 
been inspected by General Baron Barco, who 
with many others of the staff, accompanied me 
part of the way. It was natural that a tinge 
of sadness should steal over us on leaving the 
camp, for how many of the dear friends I parted 
from now might I miss on our next meeting 
with the same corps ! But the soldier may not 
indulge in those feelings — he may have no home, 
no hearth, no tie that binds him whilst the 
sword is unsheathed. The weather was most 
favourable, and we therefore marched cheerfully 
towards our new destination. 

The valley of the Waag, through which the 
river of that name flows, on its descent from 
the Carpathian Mountains, is replete with sce- 
nery which may vie for romantic splendour with 
any other in Europe. The beauties of nature 
are much enhanced by the majestic old ruins 
and well preserved castles, belonging to various 
Hungarian magnates, which look down from 
their lofty mountain fastnesses upon the fertile 
vale beneath, and I should be very much inclined 
to think that the luxuriant vegetation, the 



IN HUNGARY. Ill 

delightful climate, and variety of magnificent sce- 
nery, render this by far, the most attractive spot 
in the beautiful Magyar land. A succession of 
neat towns, villages, and chateaux on either bank 
of the Waag, give this landscape an additional 
charm, and nothing reminds one there of Hun- 
gary's misery. 



112 



THE CAMPAIGN 



CHAPTER VI. 

Bicse — Trentschin — General Baron Benedek — Ruins of 
Trentschin — The Drathbinders — Their Habits, Manners, 
and Customs — Arrival at Tyrnau Feldzeugmeister 
Baron Haynau — An agreeable Surprise — Gorgey's at- 
tempt to break through the line of the Waag — Pered 
and Kiraly-New are taken by our troops — The enemy's 
retreat to Negged — March to Presburg, and thence to 
Altendorf— F. M. S. Count Schlick — I join my regiment 
at Croatich Kimling. 

At eleven o'clock, I reached Bicse, a neat 
little town, where I was well received and obtained 
good quarters for the soldiers. I left early the 
next morning, and found this one of the most 
troublesome marches I had yet encountered, for 
my troops were so completely exhausted from the 
excessive heat, and lengthened march, that they 
could scarcely go farther, and consequently 1 was 
obliged to halt at Horaly. The next day, I ar- 
rived at Trentschin, situated on the left bank of 



IN HUNGARY. 113 

the Waag ; having quartered my troops in an ad- 
joining village, there being no room in the town 
itself, which was occupied by the brigade of 
General Benedek. 

I rode to Trentschin for the purpose of re- 
porting myself to that General, whom I had the 
honour of knowing, when in Italy some twelve 
years ago. I found him at dinner with several 
officers of distinction, many of whom were old 
acquaintances of mine, and the General very kindly 
invited me to join him. I had then to give him 
an account of all we had done, with which he 
expressed his entire satisfaction. I shall not easily 
forget the pleasant hours I passed. That evening, 

I went with Lieutenant Count N s, one of my 

officers, to visit the fine old ruins of Trentschin, 
which offered an extensive and magnificent view 
of the country around. We remained there until 
nearly ten o'clock, and then returned to our quar- 
ters — an hour's drive from the town. 

Trentschin is one of the largest and finest towns 
on the banks of the Waag ; I cannot quit it with- 
out saying a few words respecting it. Extremely 
neat, it bears the stamp of opulence, to which the 
mineral springs in its immediate vicinity greatly 



114 THE CAMPAIGN 

contribute, being much visited during the summer 
by strangers. 

The population of the Trentschin Comitate are 
Sclavonians, and it is this district which furnishes 
that class of travelling tinkers so well known 
throughout the Austrian empire, and even in the 
remotest parts of Germany under the name of 
" Drathbinders" of whom many a sad tale, many 
a legend is told, replete with romantic incidents. 
They have a peculiar trade of their own, which no 
other class thinks of interfering with, and they 
earn their subsistence chiefly, by making mouse- 
traps, and other articles for domestic use, as well 
as by mending pots and earthenware, which they 
bind together with wire in a most ingenious 
manner. 

Their costume is extremely becoming their 
dark and generally handsome eastern features. f It 
is quite simple, and made of the coarsest materials. 
Narrow white cloth trousers come down tight at 
the ankle, and are fastened around the waist by a 
leather belt ; their upper garment is a cunya, a 
sort of wide blouse rather short, made of the 

* Signifies county, or shire. 



IN HUNGARY. 115 

commonest brown cloth, which is thrown over their 
right shoulder, and comports well with the wide 
shirt sleeves underneath. This whole garment 
being cut in one piece somewhat resembles in form 
the Spanish poncho, having no seam or hem, ex- 
cept on the sleeves. These tinkers wear a very 
broad-brimmed hat, in the sombrero style, except- 
ing that the crown is lower, and the brim 
considerably deeper. They wear no shoes but 
sandals instead. The ribbons, which are crossed 
several times, meet the trousers under his cunya. 
He carries a little black box, containing his 
working implements, and his staff is a good-sized 
stick, with a hammer, which thus serves two 
purposes. His long black hair streams round his 
shoulders and is well graased with lard, which 
gives it a peculiarly rich gloss. 

It seems astonishing that the population of so 
luxuriant a part of the country, are compelled to 
leave their homes, and seek subsistence in other 
lands. But this sect of Sclavonians, although 
belonging to the Trentschin Comitat, are not 
inhabitants of the valley itself, but come from the 
Carpathian Mountain district, which is thickly 
populated, and where vegetation, being scanty, 



116 THE CAMPAIGN 

the productions of the country are quite insufficient 
to sustain them. The male population therefore, 
mostly leave their homes, to which they are 
extremely attached, at the early age of nine or 
ten, with nothing but a parent's blessing, a piece 
of bread, and the implements necessary for 
carrying on their trade, and return, after some 
years, to their homes, for which they evince a 
touching attachment, with a sufficient sum of 
money to buy a small house, with an acre or two 
of land. They then generally marry, and the 
father's implements are transferred in due time, to 
the son who, in turn, pursues a similar career. 
To see these people wander through the large 
towns, sometimes in the heat of summer, scarcely 
able to drag their tired limbs, with no roof but 
the sky, no bed but the open fields, begging in 
such touching tones for a penny, one would 
scarcely suspect that his leather pouch is filled 
with silver coin. Often, too, in winter, I have 
seen them sitting in their tattered garments by 
the roadside, trembling with cold, asking assist- 
ance with chattering teeth ; and I know more than 
one instance, when those poor boys were found 
frozen to death ; yet they willingly suffer every 



IN HUNGARY. 117 

kind of privation, until they have saved money 
enough to live comfortably at home ; and their 
habits being extremely frugal, they generally 
succeed in their object, notwithstanding the ap- 
parently unpromising nature of their trade. 

In travelling through a district inhabited by 
these people, and having always felt an interest 
in their condition, I made many enquiries relative 
to their habits, and found that although some few 
are never more heard of, the greater part, however, 
return with a sufficient sum to live the rest of 
their days in comfort. 

At five o'clock, we left Trentschin for Uhely, 
where we arrived about twelve, after a tedious 
march, and obtained excellent quarters. The 
next morning, just as we were about to proceed 
on our march, a sergeant announced that some 
twenty men had been suddenly attacked with all 
the symptoms of cholera. I immediately repaired 
to their different quarters, and was horror-struck 
to find them quite discoloured, and already so dis- 
figured, that I could scarcely have recognised them. 
Sad to say, not one out of the twenty recovered, 
and we set out on our march in very low spirits, 
having been obliged to leave our dying soldiers 
behind. 



118 THE CAMPAIGN 

My next station was Tyrnau, the head-quarters 
of the reserve of the third corps d'armee, consist- 
ing of several battalions of Grenadiers and Reserve 
Artillery. These, with General Herzinger, were 
under the command of F. M. L. Baron Wohlge- 
muth, who ordered that my troops should have 
a day's rest, which was absolutely necessary, for I 
had eighty-three men on the sick list. 

In the course of the afternoon, Baron Haynau, 
who had been nominated to the chief command of 
the army in Hungary, arrived unexpectedly at 
Tyrnau, and having reviewed the troops left im- 
mediately. I was not a little astonished to meet 
an old friend in his Adjutant- General, Lieutenant 
Colonel Pokomy, with whom I had been quartered 
in Milan many years before. We were all de- 
lighted to have had an opportunity of seeing our 
Commander-in-Chief, whose heroic deeds in Italy 
had won for him the esteem of the entire Austrian 
army. F. M. L. Baron Haynau is tall, his fine 
military bearing, his keen eye, and expressive 
features, show him at once to be the man for his 
post, whilst his determined character, energy, and 
valour, as well as his unflinching ardour, well fit 
him to grapple with the difficulties of the present 



IN HUNGARY. 119 

moment, and his military abilities which he dis- 
played so gloriously in Italy, could not but instil 
confidence into those who had the honour of 
serving under him. 

Towards evening, we joined the officers gar- 
risoned at Tyrnau at a coffee-house, and once 
again smoked cigars, determined to enjoy in com- 
fort the present moment, which it is always ad- 
visable for a soldier to do if he can, when we were 
suddenly reminded of a future by a distant can- 
nonade. We sprang from our seats; half an 
hour later, the garrison of Tyrnau, with the ex- 
ception of one battalion of Grenadiers, marched to 
join the third corps, which, with the Russian 
Division Panintin, received orders to repel 
Gorgey, who was advancing with a considerable 
force, and intended breaking through the line of 
the Waag, to strike a decisive blow at the very 
heart of the empire, by marching upon Vienna, 
with the hope of bringing the civil war to a speedy 
and successful termination. 

This sudden approach had been accomplished 
by the following means. The insurgents had 
succeeded in constructing a bridge across the 
Waag by Negged and Serekol on the 14th of 



120 THE CAMPAIGN 

June, and concentrated a considerable force at 
the latter place, with the intention of crossing to 
the right bank of the Waag. General Pott, who 
guarded the Waag from Selly downwards, seeing 
himself threatened, was obliged to retreat, and 
rallied his brigade at Zsigard. 

In the meantime, F. M. L. Wohlgemuth had 
ordered the Brigade Herzinger, and two battalions 
of Grenadiers, a six-pounder, and half a battery 
of horse artillery, together with three squadrons of 
Auersperg Cuirassiers of the brigade Theisinger 
moved up from Galaatha, to march by as rein- 
forcement to General Pott. 

These troops appeared at Pered on the 16th, at 
the precise moment when a superior force of the 
enemy attacked General Pott; but the well- 
directed advance of General Herzinger, and two 
skilful attacks under the command of Major Count 
Coredenhove, compelled the enemy to retreat, 
and General Pott, secure now from a flank move- 
ment of the enemy, succeeded in repelling him 
towards Serek Alrol, after an obstinate action. 

On the 17th, the enemy had finished the bridge 
at Negged and received reinforcements. F. M. L. 
Wohlgemuth then ordered the second half of the 



IN HUNGARY. 121 

Brigade Theisinger to reinforce General Herzinger 
in Pered. But the enemy was still too strong to 
permit an attack, since our troops were threatened 
in the flank and rear from Serek Akol. 

On the 19th, the Russian division Panintin ad- 
vanced to Wartberg, to assist the reserve corps. 

On the 20th, General Pott was attacked in 
Zsigard by ten battalions cavalry and battery ; but, 
unable to cope with the enemy, owing to his 
numerical superiority, the Brigade Pott was com- 
pelled to retreat by Deaky, and the Brigade Thei- 
singer by Szelly, whereupon the enemy took pos- 
session of Pered. F. M. L. Wohlgemuth, unable to 
give further reinforcement, as it was most impor- 
tant that the Waag by Freystadtt should be defended 
to the last, applied therefore to the Imperial Rus- 
sian division for active assistance ; upon which 
General Panintin offered to place his whole divi- 
sion on the line, at the disposal of F. M. L. 
Wohlgemuth, and advanced the same evening with 
one Rifle regiment to Hidas-Kurth, and three 
regiments and three batteries to Taksaney, where- 
upon the Brigade Theisinger was enabled to ad- 
vance to A- Szelly. 

On the 21st, at five o'clock in the morning, a 

G 



122 THE CAMPAIGN 

general advance commenced, and General Herzin- 
ger, with the brigade Theisinger, advanced, in the 
first line, and the Russian Briansk Rifle Regiment 
in the second. The Auersperg Cuirassiers in the 
left flank towards A-Szelly. The chief column 
was composed of the main body of the Russian 
division consisting of eight battalions, two batteries 
with a reserve corps of four battalions and one 
battery. To the right, one division of Avellart 
Lancers; to the left, the Emperor Ferdinand Cui- 
rassiers ; and, towards Deaki, on the extreme left 
wing, stood the brigade Perin. 

Thus the Russian division formed the centre, 
and A-Szelly was then evacuated by the enemy, 
who not accepting battle, retired to Kiraly-new 
and Pered, between which latter place and Deaki, 
the enemy took up a position. 

The action then commenced in the centre, by 
which the enemy was thrown back into the village, 
whilst the twenty-four batteries of artillery placed 
in the front line with extreme skill, by General 
Panintin, broke through the left wing of the enemy. 
The brigade Pott and Perin compelled the right 
wing to retreat, and a successful charge made by 
a division of Avellart Lancers and a section of 



IN HUNGARY. 123 

Liechtenstein Cheveaux Legers, drove the foe 
from the little wood by Szelly. Two not less 
brilliant attacks were made under the command 
of General Baron Lederer, who was placed on the 
right wing of General Panintin, assisted by two 
battalions, and four batteries of the Russian divi- 
sion. On this occasion, the two batteries under 

the command of Ensign B f of the Russian 

artillery, placed at the disposal of our cavalry, dis- 
tinguished themselves most signally. 

The enemy then retired to Pered, and General 
Herzinger, advanced to Kiraly-new, ordered the 
brigade Theisinger to take it by storm, for which 
purpose one regiment of infantry and two divi- 
sions of cuirassiers were detached towards Pered, 
whilst General Panintin advanced with two bat- 
talions, and two batteries belonging to the re- 
serve, to storm Pered. The attack, made with 
steadiness and precision, dislodged the enemy. 
But the insurgents had entrenched themselves 
by the church in Pered, and a bloody conflict 
ensued which was soon decided by the rapid 
advance of the brigades Pott and Perin, where- 
upon the enemy was compelled to retreat to- 
wards Zsigard, and we captured four batteries. 

g2 



124 THE CAMPAIGN 

The insurgents, thrown back, turned with 
great force towards the brigade Theisinger, 
which was then obliged to retire, until General 
Panintin, informed of the dangerous position of 
the corps, sent the Russian Rifle regiment, which 
had previously been assigned to General Herzin- 
ger, to General Theisinger, who, thus reinforced, 
was enabled to take Kiraly-new, after a short 
resistance, and the enemy retired to Sereg-Akol. 
After the capture of Pered, the insurgents fell 
back upon Zsigard, where they again took up a 
position ; but attacked by the brigades Pott and 
Perin, and threatened in the rear and flank by 
the Russian troops, under Panintin, they were 
compelled to retreat towards Negged. Night 
having set in, the enemy took advantage of it, and 
effected his passage across the Waag. 

On the 22nd, no enemy stood between the 
Waag and the arm of the Danube at Neuhausler. 

IfGorgey intended breaking through the line 
of the Waag, because F. Z. M. Baron Haynau 
had ordered a part of the army from the left bank 
of the Danube to cross to the right, the forces 
which he opposed to the Austro- Russian troops 
that had remained behind, were unable to cope 



IN HUNGARY. 125 

with our numerical superiority ; nor could their 
valour or perseverance be compared to that so 
gloriously evinced by the Imperial allied armies 
on those two days. 

But if, on the other hand, the insurgents merely 
intended this attack to cover their project of 
bringing the main body of the troops to the right 
bank of the Danube, they might have accom- 
plished their object with comparatively insignifi- 
cant loss by employing a force of inferior strength. 
Be this as it may, it was universally admitted 
that the dispositions of the Generals Wohlgemuth 
and Panintin were made with sagacity, and evinced 
great ability, whilst their orders were executed 
with the utmost valour, devotion, and calm pre- 
cision by the troops engaged. Gorgey had thus 
received an undeniable proof of the spirit which 
animated the Austrian troops under such eminent 
leaders ; as well as that Russian aid, which was 
still considered a fiction by many, had become a 
fact. 

The battle was over, and I was on the point of 
seeking some repose after my fatigues, when a 
corporal interrupted me by the announcement, 
that my immediate attendance was requested in 



126 THE CAMPAIGN 

the General's office. Arrived there, I received an 
order to start with my division at four o'clock in 
the morning, for Presburg by railroad, and make 
the necessary arrangements at once, that the proper 
number of waggons might be in readiness at 
that hour. 

As this railroad is worked by horses, its speed 
is not the most rapid ; notwithstanding which we 
were only too glad to be forwarded thus slowly, 
in preference to marching under the influence of 
a scorching Hungarian sun. We reached Pres- 
burg, the head-quarters of the operating army, by 
ten o'clock, and were quartered in the town, with- 
out having been inspected. The lively and gay 
aspect of the place made a most pleasing impression 
on us, and we were astonished to find the pro- 
menades crowded, a great show of rank and beauty 
in the theatre, and the hotels filled with stran- 
gers. In fact, we considered Presburg the faux- 
burg of Vienna, and the focus of pleasure ; for, 
with the exception of the many persons in uniform 
hurrying through the streets, there was nothing 
to remind any one of his proximity to the seat 
of war. We regretted that our stay was of such 
short duration, being obliged to leave the next 



IN HUNGARY. 127 

morning to continue our march to Croatish Kim- 
ling, a village behind Wieseldorf, close to the 
little arm of the Danube where my regiment was 
encamped. 

The heat on the 21st of June was so excessive, 
that I was glad to reach Altendorf, my first station, 
the head-quarters of the first corps d'armee so 
early as seven o'clock. I drew up my troops in 
the square, to be inspected by Count Schlick, 
General of the Cavalry and Commandant of the 
1st corps d'armee, with whom I had the honour 
of being personally acquainted. He appeared 
almost immediately, and was greeted with an en- 
thusiastic vivat by my troops, who had been under 
his command in Gallicia, and idolized him. He 
had succeeded F. M. L. Count Castiglioni as our 
Commander-in-Chief in Cracow, previously to his 
obtaining the appointment in Hungary, and had 
won the hearts of the troops under his command 
by his general and almost parental kindness 
towards them. 

Accomplished as a gentleman, a chivalrous 
soldier, a generous enemy, and a warm friend, 
we officers adored him, and were delighted to 



128 THE CAMPAIGN 

find that our regiment would now serve again 
under him. 

Pleased with the warm reception, and touched 

by the loud and prolonged cheers, testifying to the 

affection of the soldiers who gazed with pride on 

the fine military figure of their handsome leader, 

he extended his hand tome, and saluted my corps 

with the assurance that he was not less pleased 

than they to be once more their commandant. 

My troops obtained a day's rest, deemed necessary 

after the many fatigues they had undergone, and, 

an hour after, they were comfortably established 

in quarters, and busy in repairing their uniforms 

and accoutrements, which suffered lamentably, 

whilst I proceeded to w T ait upon Count Schlick, 

who had kindly invited me to breakfast and dine 

with him. How delightful I thought my bed 

that night, after four weeks' bivouacking ! I left 

Altenburg the next day for Croatish Kimling, 

and had the pleasure of being received with loud 

hurrahs on reaching the plain where my regimen f 

had encamped. 

I shall never forget the joy I experienced on 
my arrival at the camp, where all my fellow officers, 
who, having long since given me up for lost, 



IN HUNGARY. 129 

pressed round me with congratulations. How 
much we had to relate mutually ; but then there 
came a sad moment, too, for many a friend whom 
I asked for, was no more ; this unhappy civil war 
having already deprived us of several cheerful 
companions and excellent soldiers. 

Our regiment received orders to remain 
encamped at Croatish Kimling, until the concen- 
tration of the main army under the immediate 
command of the Fieldzeug Meister Baron Haynau 
had been accomplished. The soldiers, therefore, 
built huts of clay for our abode ; those of my 
company, however, made it a point of honour, 
that I should have one of the best, and I was 
not a little surprised at the skill and ex- 
pedition w r hich they evinced on the occasion. 
They dug a square of four yards and four 
feet in depth, and having made the walls of 
the clay thus obtained, thatched it with rush, and 
had also contrived to find room for a window and 
wooden staircase. 

Whilst they were busily employed in erecting 
this hut, my carpenter supplied me with a stret- 
cher, a table, and a bench. I was thus most com- 
fortably lodged in my house before evening, and 

g 3 



130 THE CAMPAIGN 

have often since thought that many an Irish 
peasant would not object to change quarters 
with me. 

During our stay in the camp, we had to furnish 
the outpost service, our regiment forming the 
advanced guard of the brigade, which duty fell 
to me every second day ; nevertheless, unmolested 
by the enemy, we enjoyed many a happy hour, 
and my hut, called the Palais of the camp, was 
often the point de reunion of my comrades. 

At length the 27th of June arrived, and with 
it an order to prepare for marching, as his Ma- 
jesty the Emperor, accompanied by the Prime 
Minister F. M. L. Prince Schwarzenberg, was 
expected in the imperial camp every day, having 
expressed his intention to distribute some medals, 
after which, operations were to commence on the 
part of the Austrian Army. 

The unexpected arrival of our youthful and 
chivalrous Sovereign, worshipped by the army, 
had an electric effect on all, and was received 
with an enthusiasm that baffles description. But 
when it became known that the hostilities were 
about to be renewed under the auspices of the 
Emperor, thundering cheers rent the air, pro- 



IN HUNGARY. 131 

mising success to our arms and defeat to the 
enemy. 

Previously to entering upon a narrative of the 
operations, which may be described as one trium- 
phal march from Raab to Temeswar, I shall bestow 
a glance on the position of the insurgent army. 
When the 20,000 men placed under Dembinski 
to cover the Carpathian cliffs, retreated towards 
Pesth, being threatened by the Russians, the 
principal insurgent forces, which it was estimated 
amounted to 100,000 men, stood, with the excep- 
tion of a corps of 12,000, who occupied the Mar- 
marosch, and 25,000 left for the protection of 
Transylvania, ready to be employed on the Danube 
and Theis. This considerable body of troops 
could be concentrated for any operation without 
delay, or difficulty. Although the insurgents 
were certainly far behind the allied armies in 
point of numbers and capacity, yet they had the 
advantage of being able to operate in the centre, 
and in combination against two armies separated 
by a great distance from each other. 

This advantage was, however, counterbalanced 
by the want of a good plan, and the absence of 
the necessary authority on the part of the insur- 



132 THE CAMPAIGN 

gent chiefs, to carry their design into execution, 
which, together with the vain delusion that 
Russia would not interfere by force of arms, and 
finally, the differences between Kossuth, who 
wished to make the Polish generals leaders, and 
Gorgey's army, who, devoted to their general, 
would not hear of his deposition, all tended to 
paralyze the power of the insurgents at that 
time. 

Thus, while the main body of the Russian 
army on one side, stood already at Cashau, with 
the advanced guard on the Sajo, and the Austrian 
army on the other, had concentrated her forces 
on the right bank of the Danube, advancing 
rapidly towards Raab and Comorn ; the forces of 
the insurgent army were still without a plan, and 
lay extended from the Waag, by Comorn to 
Temeswar, on a cross line intersecting the 
Danube and Theis ; 40,000 men under Gorgey, 
stood on the Waag, and the left bank of the 
Danube; 20,000 men under Klapka, were in 
Raab ; 35,000 men, under Guyon and Perezel, 
round Szegedin and Theresiopel; 50,000 men 
on the Palaton lake, and by Foldvar, under 
Aulich; 18,000 men, under Vetter and Gaal, 



IN HUNGARY. 133 

around Temeswar and Arad ; 20,000 men, under 
Dernbinski, between Szolnok, Alberti, and Pesth, 
formed this line. 

It was evident that the closer th'3 allied armies 
approached each other by their mutual advance, 
the more ruinous must the result prove to the 
cause of the insurgents ; but notwithstanding 
their imminent danger, they tarried too long in 
changing their position, from the motives referred 
to above, and it was not until the eleventh hour, 
that the insurgents attempted a concentration of 
their forces, but it was too late, and the operation 
being carelessly attempted, eventually failed. 

This mistake may be said to have decided 
the campaign. The insurgents, divided into 
two parts, were forced across the Theis in 
divergent directions, and, by the combined ap- 
proach of the allied armies towards Grosswardein 
and Temeswar, were dispersed, or compelled to 
surrender. 

The operations of the allied armies were, 
therefore, directed to three grand movements. 
Firstly, the convergent operations by Kuschace 
and Raab, towards Waitzen and Ofen, from the 
26th June to 19th July, which brought about the 



134 THE CAMPAIGN 

dispersion of the insurgent army. Secondly, the 
operations from the 19th July till the 2nd of 
August, effected with the view to drive back 
the separated insurgent divisions across the 
Theis, where the Russian Commander-in-Chief 
became the point aVappui of the operations, and 
having taken a position on the road from Miskoley 
to Hatwan, and forced the passage by Thissa- 
Tured and Esegg, compelled Gorgey, stationed 
in the north, to retreat towards Tokay, which 
rendered it practicable for the Austrian Army 
to march on Szegedin. Thirdly, the operations 
from the 2nd to the 10th August, when both 
main armies advanced in a concentric line towards 
Arad, by^Grosswardein, and Temeswar, forcing 
the insurgent army back to the Marosch valley, 
where, pressed by General Luders, who advanced 
from Transylvania, they were compelled to sur- 
render in different directions. 

The insurgent army consisted of 20 battalions 
of disciplined troops, 117 battalions of Honveds, 
16 cavalry regiments, and numerous legions of 
foreign adventurers, German democrats, and 
Polish revolutionary heroes, about 800 cannons. 
On the whole, it may be estimated at 190,000 



IN HUNGARY. 135 

men of all arms, without including the Land- 
sturm. 

Their artillery was good, and well supplied 
in masses ; the Hussars were well paid and fana- 
ticized, and, although full of energy, and at 
all times ready to fight, without discipline or per- 
severance in action. The infantry were in good 
practice by six months' active service, and spurred 
on by the conquests gained during that period. 



136 THE CAMPAIGN 



CHAPTER VII. 

Arrival of the Emperor at the Camp — Distribution of Me- 
dals — Position of the Allied Armies, and of the Insur- 
gent Forces — Strength of the Insurgent Army — The 
Chaplain's blessing — Battle of Kaab— The Austrians 
occupy the outposts of St. Iwan — A Visit to the Village 
March towards Gongos — Camp at St. Janos — Battle 
under the walls of Comorn— Occupation of the wood 
between Acs and Comorn — Position of the Troops — A 
Brother's Eevenge — The Soldier's Death-bed — The cho- 
lera — Battle of Acs — Lieutenant Colonel B wounded 

— The Author has a narrow escape — He takes the com- 
mand of the Battalion — Another Miraculous Escape — 
Dreadful fate of a Corporal — Death of Lieutenant — — 
Bravery of the Austrian Troops — Feelings of the Army 
towards his Majesty — The Insurgent Leaders' last remedy 
to revive the ardour of their Troops — Death of an 
Officer in the Emperor's suite — His Majesty's Aid-de- 
camp is wounded. 

Let us now return to the Camp. About ten 
o'clock on the 27th June a distant vivat, heard 
from the remotest part of the camp, announced 



IN HUNGARY. 137 

the arrival of the Emperor; his Majesty, greeted 
with an enthusiasm and warmth that testified to 
the deep affection and steadfast loyalty of the 
troops, passed us in review, and with a smile on 
his youthful countenance, advanced to distribute 
the medals which he fastened with his own hand 
on the breast of the distinguished warriors, 
addressing a few kind words to each. Deafening 
cheers announced the completion of this ceremony, 
and the troops advanced rapidly amidst thundering 
hurrahs. 

We marched on to Hochstrass, in pursuit of 
the enemy, who retreated before us as rapidly as 
we advanced and retired behind the well-fortified 
entrenchments of Raab. We then encamped, and 
I with my division, was ordered on outpost service, 
which this time proved no light duty. The ex- 
cessive heat of the day and the closeness of the 
night, only increased the fatigue incurred by the 
march. Repose was out of the question, for two 
reasons ; firstly, the immediate vicinity of the 
enemy, and the million of mosquitoes by which 
we were continually tormented during the entire 
campaign. The unfortunate individual who was 
imprudent enough to throw himself on the ground 



138 THE CAMPAIGN 

and to fall asleep, without covering his face and 
hands, was certain to wake up a living martyr, 
whom none could recognise from the state in 
which these terrible insects had left him. 

In the mean time, the insurgent leaders 
Klapka, and Poltenberg, had taken up a position 
before Raab, and occupied the bastion. To attack 
the enemy and drive him towards Comorn, was 
the work of the 28th June, and at an early hour 
in the morning, all prepared for the unavoidable 
battle. Encouraged by the presence of the 
Emperor, the regiments hastened to occupy their 
different positions, and joy lit up the soldier's eye, 
for he remembered that his sovereign had come to 
share the danger with him, and all impatiently 
awaited the signal for a general advance. 

It came at last, — the gun-fire so anxiously ex- 
pected, — and when its solemn sound had passed 
away, there was a dead silence ; and then the 
horses neighed, the drums were beaten, and all 
went forward with impetuous speed. But at that 
instant, when all hearts beat high, with dreams of 
glory and ambition, forgetting quite, that if the 
thousands who were now hurrying on, many would 
not return to speak of truimph or defeat, neither 



IN HUNGARY. 139 

of which can soothe the widow's broken heart, 
the mother's anguish and the orphan's tear ; — the 
chaplain of our regiment stepped forward, and, 
after a short address, gave us his blessing. I shall 
never forget the solemnity of that moment, and 
the religious feeling which it inspired will remain 
deeply engraven on my memory. Thousands of 
warriors knelt down in the midst of the turmoil 
of war, and made the sign of the cross with un- 
covered heads and deep devotion. After a short 
prayer had been murmured in haste, to invoke a 
blessing from the heavenly Father of all, the 
entire line rushed forward to the battle-field with 
an enthusiasm which proved that each felt himself 
a hero, and would gladly at that moment have 
staked his life to realize the hopes our chiefs had 
infused amongst us. The battle shortly became 
general on all points, and the troops crowded for- 
ward in double-quick step. The cannon's roar 
was mingled with the tones of some gay march, 
when suddenly loud and prolonged cheers reached 
us from the banks below. Then there came the 
trampling of horses, — it was our youthful Emperor 
who passed us, borne swiftly on by his gallant 
steed to fight in the foremost ranks. The enthu- 



140 THE CAMPAIGN 

siasm had reached its height, and the thundering 
hurrah of a devoted army accompanied the 
chivalrous monarch to the field as he rode past us. 

The first, third, and reserve corps d'armee 
advanced to the attack on Raab. The Russian 
army division Panintin and the cavalry division 
F. M. L. Recthold remained by Leyden and 
Svenyhaga as reserve. F. M. L. Count Schlick, 
under whose command I was advanced on the 
high road towards Abda, in order to force the 
passage across the Rabnitz, whilst F. M. L. Wohl- 
gemuth, in command of the reserve corps, with 
the Brigade Benedek, as avant garde, advanced, 
simultaneously repelling the enemy on the road 
by Sesvar on the left bank of the Rabnitz, and 
moved forward towards Raab. 

By this movement, the enemy standing at the 
Abda bridge, being threatened in the rear, de- 
stroyed the bridge by fire, and retired behind 
the entrenchments. Both corps d'armee now 
advanced to the attack on the fortifications of 
Raab. The enemy offered resistance, but the 
bravery of the troops, together with the effective 
fire of the artillery, and particularly the well- 
timed advance of the third corps d'armee and 



IN HUNGARY. 141 

the Brigade Schneider threatening the left flank 
of the enemy, compelled Klapka to abandon Raab, 
and to retire towards Acs, the more particularly 
since the assistance promised him by Grorgey was 
not forthcoming. 

In the meantime, the third corps d'armee and 
the leading brigade Gerstner, had both crossed the 
Raab on the 27th, the former by Apras, the latter 
by Magato, whilst the detached Brigade Schneider, 
had effected the passage by Bodonghelz the day 
before. The latter encountered the enemy at 
Csonok, took the strongly-occupied village by 
assault, and put the insurgents to flight, on which 
occasion the third division of Kaiser Uhlamen* 
attached to the brigade distinguished themselves 
most signally. In this affair a mortar and an 
ammunition-waggon were taken from the insur- 
gents. The main body of this corps, under the 
command of F. M. L. Mottke, encountered the 
enemy on the road from Teth to Tengo, and an 
action was fought, which ended in the retreat of 
the insurgents. 

Our noble-minded and chivalrous sovereign at 
the head of the Infantry, led us on to the first 
* Lancers. 



142 THE CAMPAIGN 

assault on the suburb of Raab. Need it be said, 
that, burning with hopes of a glorious future, we 
followed him with impetuosity, heedless of the 
cannon -balls that passed us, and Raab was taken 
in the midst of enthusiastic cheers, so loud, that 
they drowned the deep thunder-peal, which laid 
low many a brave soldier. 

The battle of Raab was a hot one on both sides : 
both armies fought with exasperation and bravery. 
The Hungarian artillery stood its ground with 
intrepidity and valour, and only forsook their 
positions when they found themselves threatened 
both in flank and rear. In one single bulwark 
we found twenty-seven horses, and as many dead 
canonneers, which gave proof of the perseverance 
and obstinacy evinced by the insurgent artillery 
on that day. 

The cannon's roar was. silenced, the dead at 
peace ; and, amidst the cheering tones of the 
Radetzki march, and the national anthem, with 
our gallant sovereign at our head, we marched 
through the streets of Raab. No shot was fired 
on the conquering troops, but the black and 
yellow flags, and the flag of truce were exhibited 



IN HUNGARY. 143 

from the windows, while laurel-wreaths and 
garlands of flowers fell at our feet. 

The enemy had withdrawn in the direction of 
Comorn, and our brigade received orders to pursue 
him and occupy the outposts of St. Ivan. We 
therefore only marched through Raab, outside 
the town ; the cannonade began again, and we 
hurried without rest till midnight in pursuit of 
the enemy ; and, after short hot actions with the 
rear-guard of the insurgents, we reached St. 
Ivan, and occupied the advanced posts, and that 
without having taken any nourishment since 
morning. It was therefore natural that we should 
feel exhausted, the more so, as we had been only 
relieved that morning from outpost service, and 
had undergone eighteen hours* uninterrupted 
fatigue since. I would gladly have thrown myself 
on the ground to obtain one hour's sleep, though 
this was a luxury at the time unattainable. 

Hungry and weary, I was looking forward with 
no small degree of pleasure, to the arrival of my 
servant, who w r as in care of my horses, and of the 
carriage containing my provisions, when I disco- 
vered, to my great annoyance, that he had re- 
mained behind Raab, with the baggage when the 



144 THE CAMPAIGN 

general advance commenced, and could not 
possibly find me out, or even make his way 
in, at that hour of the pitchdark night. For 
once I was inconsolable ; the recollection of 
my delicious ham and good wine, which would 
have revived my exhausted spirits, was most 
tantalizing. Unfortunately, too, the rain came 
down in torrents, and drenched me to the 
skin, my only clothing consisting of a light 
white uniform, which I could not change, as my 
baggage remained behind. However, " II faut 
faire bonne mine a mauvais jeu." I therefore 
sate by the crackling watchfire, and joyfully ac- 
cepted a piece of black bread offered me by one 
of my soldiers, but which I must acknowledge, 
being somewhat dry, and uncommonly stale, I 
found great difficulty in masticating, notwith- 
standing my ravenous hunger. 

At dawn of day, I repaired to the village, which 
was about 200 paces from our camp, in the hope 
of finding something to satisfy my craving hunger 
and quench my thirst, but I soon ascertained that 
my comrades and soldiers, who had probably 
searched the village long before day-break for the 
same purpose, had not left anything for us, whose 
misfortunes they forgot in their own. 



IN HUNGARY. 145 

The inhabitants, partly Sclavonians and partly 
Magyars, had fled from the village, some through 
fear, others through patriotism, and having care- 
fully taken all their property with them, most 
of their houses were deserted, but I was delighted 
to find in one an empty pot, in which I could 
make some chocolate for my breakfast, having 
taken the precaution of carrying a supply of this 
article in my leather pouch. I therefore boiled it 
in water, and poor as it was, without either milk 
or sugar, relished it exceedingly ; nor do I re^ 
member ever to have enjoyed anything so much as 
that cup of chocolate, after a twenty hours' fast 
and a thorough drenching. I never afterwards 
neglected to provide myself with it, and it often 
rendered me essential service, furnishing as it con- 
stantly did my only meal. 

I had scarcely finished my frugal breakfast, 
when we renewed our march towards Gongos in 
battle array, and reached St. Janos about two 
o'clock, without having met with the enemy. The 
baggage had, in the meantime, overtaken us, and 
the soldiers were soon busy in taking out the pots 
to cook their dinner. We had received orders to 
remain at St, Janos till the next morning. The 

H 



146 THE CAMPAIGN 

afternoon was therefore devoted to the general 
repair of uniforms and accoutrements, and needles 
were as busy that day as swords had been at the 
battle of Raab. 

I threw myself under a rick of straw, which 
afforded an agreeable shelter from the scorching 
sun, and commenced a letter to one who was un- 
doubtedly in anxiety about me, when some dis- 
tant cheers excited my curiosity ; and, on inquiry, 
I found that an estafette had arrived from his 
Majesty, with the order of Maria Theresa for our 
beloved commandant, F. M. L. Count Schlick, 
which had been awarded to him for his distin- 
guished services at Kaschau. I hurried in all 
haste to the general's tent to offer my congratula- 
tions, where I found most of the officers assembled. 
Even the soldiers participated in the joy occasioned 
by this mark of distinction conferred on their 
chief. The different bands struck up God save 
the Emperor, and the troops cheered their chival- 
rous leader, who, sharing all trials and hardships 
with them, was ever received enthusiastically by 
them whenever he appeared. 

On the 30th of June, we took up our position 
at Acs and Concurenz, on the right bank of the 



IN HUNGARY. 147 

Danube, where we had received orders to await 
the throwing of abridge over the river atGongos, 
which would enable us to manoeuvre on either 
bank. 

On the 1st of July, the Master of Ordnance, 
Baron Haynau, was informed that the enemy had 
taken up a strong position between Acs and 
Comorn, into which fortress the insurgents were 
endeavouring to throw a re-inforcement of 40,000 
men from Ofen, reported already to stand before 
Dotis. 

F. M. L. Baron Haynau determined to frustrate 
this intended concentration, and, at the same 
time, to reconnoitre on a large scale. But, as it 
soon became evident that the force of the approach- 
ing enemy had been greatly exaggerated, and that 
the insignificant insurgent division had already 
reached Comorn in the night, Baron Haynau de- 
termined to advance and reconnoitre. 

When the Austrian troops appeared before 
Comorn, Gorgey moved forward fifty batteries, 
covered by twenty squadrons of Hussars. Baron 
Haynau had given orders to our troops not to 
attack the Hungarians, but to confine themselves 
to artillery-fire (manoeuvres), notwithstanding 

h 2 



148 THE CAMPAIGN 

which the Lichtenstein chevaux legers y taking 
advantage of one of the enemy's batteries being 
imprudently advanced, made a brilliant attack on 
it, and succeeded in capturing the guns. 

The squadron of Hussars who hastened to the 
assistance of this battery, were driven back with 
loss. At the same time, General Baron Reischach, 
unable to moderate his eagerness and the ardour 
of his troops, attacked the fortifications of the 
Landberg, near the head of the bridge, notwith- 
standing that the strictest orders to the contrary 
had been issued, and in a short time conquered 
three bastions, took three cannons and a mortar, 
besides making sixty prisoners. Such was the 
spirit which animated the troops. But the en- 
trenchments had to be evacuated with the loss of 
fifteen officers and 100 men, dead and wounded, 
the army having, whilst this isolated action took 
place in the left wing, received orders to occupy 
the positions assigned for the night. 

F. M. L. Baron Haynau, having accomplished 
his object of ascertaining the strength of the 
enemy, ordered the different corps to be placed as 
follows : — 

The first corps was to march to Acs, and to 



IN HUNGARY. 149 

occupy the wood between that place and Co- 
morn. 

General Wohlgemuth, to Nystseba. 

The Brigade Benedek, to O-Szony. 

The Reserve Cavalry, on the right flank of 
Wohlgemuth. 

The Cavalry Brigade, Prince Lichtenstein, to 
Huskaly. 

The division Panintin, to Szem. 

Head- quarters, to Bana. 

The third corps, to Igmand. 

The different corps had nearly accomplished 
these movements, when Gorgey, exasperated at 
the bold attacks of the Austrian troops, and having 
ascertained that the weak corps of General Schlick 
alone stood opposite to him, made a sudden sortie 
from the fortress of Comorn, with twelve battalions, 
twelve batteries, and forty squadrons of Hussars 
and attacked us. 

Count Schlick, at once aware of the threatening 
danger, requested a brigade and two batteries of 
General Panintin, but the Russian General hasten- 
ed to the assistance of the first corps with his entire 
division, without having waited for the sanction 
of Baron Havnau, his head- quarters being too far 



150 THE CAMPAIGN 

away. Covered by insignificant heights, General 
Panintin approached the enemy within cannon- 
shot. Having placed himself on the hill in the 
enemy's flank, and on a line with the front of the 
first corps, he opened a hot flank-fire with two 
batteries on the insurgent artillery, and on the 
column of hussars which Count Schlick had made 
arrangements to attack at that very moment. The 
enemy's loss in men and horses, occasioned by the 
well-directed fire of the Russian artillery, was so 
great that he was compelled to retire into the 
town. An attempt on the part of the Hussars to 
make a circuitous movement was baffled by the 
bold and well executed attacks of General Simb- 
schen. 

This sanguinary battle commenced at seven in 
the morning, and continued without intermission 
till eight o'clock in the evening. We had unfor- 
tunately sustained a considerable loss in officers 
and men by the cavalry attacks and infantry 
charges, besides the many brave comrades, dear 
friends, and excellent soldiers which the assault 
on the entrenchments of Comorn cost us. 

The day at Acs was, therefore, as sad as it was 
nteresting to the soldier, for each wanted to be 



IN HUNGARY. 151 

the first to shed his blood, each was jealous of 
contributing his share of the laurels to be won ; 
and such was the exasperation with which we 
fought, that little quarter was shewn on either 
side. 

It was a painful moment when the order came 
to abandon the bulwarks which we had conquered 
with our heart's blood, and to re-occupy our 
former position. We obeyed as it became the 
well-disciplined soldier, but the retreating line 
was covered with our dead. Our brigade formed 
again the avant garde, and we therefore occupied 
the outposts the same evening, which were a 
hundred paces nearer to the fortress. 

The wood at Acs is pretty extensive, and we 
soon cut down a sufficient quantity of trees to 
build huts, and to keep up good watch-fires. As we 
gate round them, all the scenes I had witnessed 
that day recurred to me, such carnage, such 
loss of human life, and such sufferings! There, 
a soldier who had lost his leg, asked to be shot, 
so as to be put out of his misery ; there again, a 
soldier and a Honved were fighting hand to hand 
with such exasperation, that neither party would 
take or give quarter. During this scene, I looked 



152 THE CAMPAIGN 

on in breathless suspense ; at last, the brave Bo- 
hemian, cut to pieces, expired with the words 
" God save the Emperor ! " on his lips. The 
Honved, bleeding already from several wounds, 
had scarcely time to turn away from his antago- 
nist, w T hen he was assailed by a fresh enemy. 
Now it became indeed a desperate struggle for 
life and death between the two. The blows of 
the Imperialist were well dealt, and skilfully 
parried by the Hungarian, who had succeeded in 
wounding his adversary in the head, but the 
uncertain thrusts he already made proved that his 
strength was impaired, and his blows lost their 
vigour. With livid lips, and dilated eyes, he was 
preparing to make a desperate thrust at the sol- 
dier, who, with a last effort, felled his bayonet, 
and ran the Honved through the body ; the latter 
fell to the ground without a groan. But the 
soldier's strength now deserted him, his knees 
tottered ; I saw him lean over the dead comrade 
beside whom he had fought, and brush away a 
tear, and then he sank down upon him, never to 
rise again. He died on his brother's corpse, and 
we had them buried in one grave. 

It was a lamentable sight to see the dead around 



IN HUNGARY. 153 

us, with their ghastly features, and blood-stained 
uniforms, and melancholy to hear the groans and 
heart-rending sighs of the wounded ; the prayers 
of some, the curses of others, were alike painful 
to listen to. 

That night, as I was sitting by the watch-fire, 
a sergeant came to say that a wounded soldier 
asked to see me. I hastened to him. It was a 
young recruit, who had but lately joined. He 
lay on his straw bed ; the surgeon stood beside 
him, having just extracted a ball from the wounded 
man's body. A faint smile lighted up his features 
when he saw me, and, drawing a plain ring from 
his finger, he begged me to send it home to his 
bride elect ; but the tide of life was ebbing fast, 
and, pointing to a soldier, who he said could give 
me the direction, he looked at me beseechingly, 
and stammering " Thank you, Pan JTetman,"* fell 
back a corpse. Him, too, we buried that dark 
dismal night ; and, fulfilling his wish, I sent the 
ring, to which his comrade added a lock of hair. 
It was clotted with his blood, and had been cut 
at his desire for the poor girl he was never again 

* Signifies, Monsieur le Capitain. 

H 3 



154 THE CAMPAIGN 

to see. Thus romance exists often where we should 
least expect to meet with it. 

Yes, thus it is in war. To-day it is one, to- 
morrow, another, who will be missing from the 
gay mess- table. Many amongst us too, had had hair- 
breadth escapes during the action at Comorn. Yet 
we remembered not the dangers passed, nor thought 
of those that were to follow. We had won the 
day, and that was a sufficient reason why unre- 
strained gaiety should be the order of the hour. 
Fatigue, perils, and privations were alike forgotten. 
The soldiers played and sang, as if they had re- 
turned from a feast, and not a battle. Yet we 
could not be said to have forgotten those whom 
we had left on a bloody field. 

The next day, we had bright sunny weather, 
and, ere the third of June was passed, our camp 
resembled a little town, so many huts of wood, 
clay, and rushes had been built, that one might 
have fancied oneself rather in the midst of a gay 
camp in time of peace, than engaged in actual 
warfare, if the lighted lunt at the cannon's mouth, 
and the constant patrol, had not reminded one of 
the serious importance of the hour. Our gaiety 
was, however, fated to be interrupted again by 



IN HUNGARY. 155 

the cholera, which broke out with fearful 
violence, and in less than three days, we had lost 
four officers, and nearly eighty men. With the 
exception of insignificant skirmishes, scarcely 
worth recording, our days passed in peace, and 
the inactivity of our camp and life became almost 
intolerable. 

On the 10th of July, I rode with Lieutenant- 
Colonel B r to the farthest line, and we 

could see quite plainly the manoeuvring of several 
Honved battalions, and how the enemy worked 
without intermission at the entrenchments of 
Comoro, which certainly made us suspect that the 
insurgents harboured some secret plan, or intended 
to venture on a general sortie. Our surmises 
proved correct. The enemy came down upon us 
with his entire force the next day, and it was in 
this forest that one of the most sanguinary battles 
of the Hungarian campaign was fought. 

The wood of Acs may be called the pivot of an 
important position, wherefore both armies wished 
to hold it, and hence the desperate struggle that 
ensued, in which no quarter was either asked or 
given. 

It was a sickening sight to see the wounded 



156 



THE CAMPAIGN 



carried by in such numbers that it soon became 
a column, some actually dying in the arms of those 
who bore them. Accordingly, as this column of 
the disabled increased, so the troops advanced, 
each regiment expecting to meet certain death, 
notwithstanding which, they yet went forward 
with impetuous speed. 

At last, came our turn ; Palombini, en avant / 
resounded through the wood, and we went forward 
with a cheer. Six times were we repulsed, and 
six times we advanced with undiminished zeal. 
With giant-like strength we charged, and charged 
again, heedless of the murderous fire of the insur- 
gents which thinned our ranks. During the heat 
of the battle, Lieutenant- Colonel B , com- 
manding the battalion, stopped to give me some 
order. We stood side by side ; but, ere he had 
time to finish his sentence, a ball struck him on 
the head, and he fell senseless from his horse. 

Lieutenant-Colonel B being dangerously 

wounded, I, as senior captain, was ordered to take 
the command of the battalion, which important 
charge I retained during the remainder of the 
campaign. I had scarcely placed myself at the 
head of the battalion, when a ball passed through 



IN HUNGARY. 157 

my tschacko, a trophy which I have preserved in 
commemoration of my own very narrow escape 
on that day. Tremendous was the exasperation 
with which this wood was attacked and defended; 
the carnage was terrible. The wood actually re- 
sembled a charnel-house, corpse was heaped on 
corpse, friend and foe lay side by side in the sleep 
of death, and the trees suffered almost as much as 
the men who fought under their shade, from the 
havoc caused by the storm of shot and shell. I 
shall never forget the scenes I witnessed on that 
day. Among the earliest, was the death of my 
corporal within a few yards of me. A grenade 
struck him on the chest, and exploded, as I may 
say, in his body ; the next instant, nothing was 
left save the hands and feet of the unfortunate 
soldier, whose body had been shattered into a 
thousand fragments ! 

"PoorM !" cried the lieutenant of my 

company, who had witnessed this dreadful occur- 
rence, and raising his sword, he exclaimed, " On 
to the assault, my brave soldiers," Czeski za umore ! 
(Bohemians, follow me,) and, at that moment, he 
fell to the ground ; his tschacko, torn into atoms, 
was struck high into the air ; a cannon-ball had 



158 THE CAMPAIGN 

carried away his head, and he lay a mangled corpse 
beside two privates struck by the same ball. 

Poor Ochsenbauer ! peace be to his ashes ! He 
was an excellent officer, a warm friend, and was 
universally regretted. Methinks I see him now, 
with his open brow, and his eyes sparkling, as 
he cheered the soldiers on to the assault, little 
thinking that he was about to speak his last words. 
But we won the bloody day, and remained masters 
of the wood, although it cost our regiment alone 
five officers and 120 privates. Poor Ochsenbauer 
had been moved aside, and when that bloody 
battle was over, wrapping him in his military 
cloak, we laid him in the grave we had dug for 
his mangled remains, amidst the tears of those 
who loved him best. 

Three days afterwards, we had an outpost 
skirmish on the same spot, and there, where poor 
Ochsenbauer fell, we found a small portion of his 
skull which was immediately recognised by us all, 
his hair having been particularly fair. We sent 
it to his mother, who was so proud, and so fond 
of her son, and undoubtedly appreciated this sad 
memorial. 

It cannot be denied that the Hungarians fought 



IN HUNGARY. 159 

with extraordinary valour and unconquerable per- 
severance. At the same time, nothing could equal 
the bravery and contempt of death evinced by 
the Austrian army, which the presence of the 
Emperor heightened to enthusiasm, and the more 
so, since His Majesty rode forward during the 
hottest fire, and could not be induced to retire, 
although his retinue used their utmost exertions 
to persuade him not to expose his precious life. 
But he glanced round on his devoted army, bear- 
ing incredible hardships, as one after the other of 
those around him fell to rise no more, and, heed- 
less of his own safety, spurred his steed on again, 
to be the foremost in the place of danger. 

The troops, inspired and excited by the chivalry 
and lofty mind of their gallant sovereign, fought 
with all the ardour of their souls, and each was 
ready to sacrifice his life, provided the battle, 
graced by the presence of the sovereign, upon 
whose young brow was placed the crown of Aus- 
tria, were won. Well might the Prince glance round 
with pride on the warriors who surrounded him, 
for in the hour of trial, they proved the firmest 
bulwark of his throne ! 

Under such auspices, every soldier became a 



160 THE CAMPAIGN 

hero — and therefore the insurgents were unable 
to make us waver, and all the exertions of Gorgey 
and Klapka to win the battle proved abortive, 
although the former ordered batteries to be placed 
behind the troops of the line, and threatened to 
fire upon them with cartridges if they re- 
treated. 

However much this assertion may be denied, 
it is still a fact, my authority being one of the 
Hungarian officers engaged in that very action , 
who heard the order given. He was set at liberty 
after the Capitulation of Comorn, and I met him 
in Keszthely, where he told me this among other 
things 

Our valiant Emperor was so fearless of his own 
person on this occasion, that an orderly in the 
suite of his Majesty was shot, and one of his 
aid-de-camps wounded. 



IN HUNGARY. 161 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Object of Gorgey as respects the battle fought on the 1 1th — 
Klapka in command of the fortress of Comorn — March 
to Pesth — Dreadful accident to a soldier — The Author 
falls from his horse — Arrival at Puszta Torvort — March 
to Bia — Entry into Pesth — Devastation of Pesth and 
Ofen — Heroic defence of Ofen — Bombardment of the 
fortress — Deaths of General Hentz'i and Captain Schroder 
— Colonel Alnock takes the command — The fall of Ofen 
— Fearful barbarities committed by the insurgent troops 
— Colonel Alnock — Massacre of four hundred men and 
twenty officers by the insurgents on their entry into Ofen 
— The camp at Kakos — Hardships endured by the troops 
— Destruction of the wells — Fata morgana — Operations 
of the Austrian army — The enemy's retreat to Szegedin, 
which is taken by our troops — The enemy's retreat to 
Szoreg, which is taken by assault — March to Nagy St. 
Miklos. 

As it had not been the intention of F. Z. M, 
Baron Haynau to fight a second battle under the 
walls of Comorn, since the insurgents could do us 



162 



THE CAMPAIGN 



considerable injury with their heavy batteries 
without our being able to obtain any advantage 
over them, it is necessary to state the object 
Grorgey had in view in challenging us to the battle 
fought on the 11th. 

Gorgey having arrived at a certainty that on 
the 2nd of July he should not be able to carry 
into effect his intention of breaking through the 
allied troops stationed on the right bank of the 
Danube, quickly altered his plan of operations, 
and purposed to effect a union with Dembinski's 
corps by a rapid march on the left bank of the 
Danube towards Waitzen. Anxious to conceal 
his actual plan from the Austrian army, the insur- 
gent general attempted a sortie from the en- 
trenched camp at the head of the bridge of the 
Danube, and hoped to succeed, being aware that 
a part of our army, the third corps, had moved 
towards Ofen. 

At noon, the enemy advanced from the fortress 
in considerable columns, and occupying the wood 
around Heckaly with twenty battalions, made a 
violent attack on the first and reserve corps, 
favoured by fog and rain. The brigades Branchi 
and Scortori of the first corps, assisted by the 



IN HUNGARY. 163 

brigade Keischach and a cavalry attack made 
under the guidance of F. M. L. Prince Lichten- 
stein, resisted the enemy, whose numbers were far 
superior to them. The reserve corps, pressed by 
the main force of the enemy, was compelled to 
withdraw towards Czem. Whereupon, F. M. Z. 
Haynau ordered the Russian division, stationed 
at Nagy Igmand, to march to Pust Czem, and 
relieve the right wing of the reserve corps. 

General Panintin reached the field of battle at 
a moment replete with difficulties for the reserve, 
corps. The insurgents having advanced boldly pre- 
pared for a decisive attack; but, by Baron Haynau 's 
order, the Russian division, Panintin, attacked the 
enemy in the left flank, who soon after retreated 
at all points, and two hussar regiments, who 
attempted to outflank the right wing of General 
Panintin, were easily repelled by the well-directed 
fire of the seventh and eighth batteries. In the 
meantime, the cavalry division, Bechthold, had also 
triumphantly repulsed the insurgent cavalry divi- 
sions, who were advancing from O-Szony towards 
Mocsa, and at seven o'clock in the evening, the 
enemy had withdrawn into their entrenchments. 

Whilst Gorgey deceived the Austrian army by 



164 THE CAMPAIGN 

his sortie, he had sent his train towards Gran, and 
followed during the night with his army, taking 
the road towards Waitzen, in the hope of reaching 
it before the arrival of the Russian troops ; and, 
with a view of joining Perezel, who had attempted 
to advance from Syolnok towards Jass Bereny ; 
and Alberti Klapka, who had been appointed to 
the command of the fortress of Comorn, supported 
Gorgey in this operation. 

After this battle of Comorn, we had a few 
days' rest, but, alas ! we found with regret, that 
the cholera carried away those whom the cannon- 
balls had spared, and we looked forward with 
delight to quit the fatal wood. At last, the 
long-wished-for order came, and nothing could 
equal the spirits of the troops. In the course 
of the evening previously to our departure, a 
dreadful accident occurred, which might have 
ended badly, and naturally tended to damp the 
gaiety occasioned by the order to march towards 
P'esth. 

A soldier, a Pole by birth, was handling a 
bomb, actuated by curiosity to examine its con- 
tents. He tried first to scrape out the wadding 
with a knife ; not succeeding in this, he heated 



IN HUNGARY. 165 

an iron, and then sat down on the ground, and 
taking the bomb between his knees, he made 
an experiment by applying the red hot iron to 
the bomb, which exploded almost immediately, 
and shattered his hands and feet, without yet 
injuring any of the soldiers who stood in his 
immediate vicinity, which was singular enough. 
It seems inconceivable that any man who had 
once become acquainted with the nature of a 
bomb, should be imprudent enough to trifle 
with it. 

In order to give the reader an idea of the 
fury with which the cannonade was carried on 
by the insurgents during that short battle, I 
need only state that on the spot where we were 
encamped, which was about four hundred yards 
square, our soldiers collected upwards of three 
hundred cannon-balls. 

We broke up the next morning, as our bri- 
gade belonged to the first corps d'armee, which, 
together with the reserve corps, the division 
Panintin, and the cavalry division, Bechthold, 
had received orders to hurry by forced marches 
to Pesth, whilst the second corps d'armee was 
left behind to observe Comorn. 



166 THE CAMPAIGN 

The 23rd of July was well nigh proving a 
fatal day for me, and the fact that I live to 
record that accident is a miracle. We rested 
half way to Pesth, and having enjoyed some 
cold meat, and a little wine, rare luxury in those 
times, I mounted and galloped onwards to place 
myself at the head of the battalion, standing in 
rank and file, when my horse, in full gallop, 
stumbling over a short wooden peg, fell over with 
me. The fall seemed so dreadful to those who 
looked on, that the eldest captain in rank, thinking 
me killed, was about to take the command, when 
suddenly man and horse jumped up, and I rode 
to the head of the battalion, to the utter astonish- 
ment of all. It would be impossible to describe 
the surprise of those who witnessed the accident 
when it was discovered that I had not even broken 
a bone, nor sustained the slightest injury. I must 
confess that nothing more painful could have 
occurred to me, than if I had been prevented from 
taking an active part in the campaign by a broken 
leg, or any similar injury, after having escaped so 
many dangers and so many battles, without even 
bringing away an ecratignure. 

We left the camp at Acs on the 23rd of July 



IN HUNGARY. 167 

at eight o'clock in the morning, and marched to 
Puszta Czem Torvort, where I awaited the bri- 
gade, and then entered Puszta, where we remained 
over night, and I had the honour of being invited 
to dinner by Prince Lichtenstein, our Division- 
naire. The next day, we continued our march, 
which proved one of the most trying I remember 
since we reached our destination, only at mid- 
night, and that without having tasted anything 
since morning. The 25th we halted at Bia, 
and prepared for our entry into Pesth the fol- 
lowing day. 

Pesth and Ofen, which we looked on as 
a kind of Goshen, where a few days' rest 
would be granted us, in order that we might 
repose from the heavy fatigues which we had 
undergone, therefore acted magically on our 
spirits — when at last the city came in sight, but 
how often the proverb, IS homme propose, et Dieu 
dispose, is verified. We remained neither in 
Pesth nor Ofen, but only marched through those 
towns, having received orders to encamp on the 
Rakoezy plain, which is about five miles behind 
Pesth, and to march on the next morning. 

A singular feeling stole over me as I rode 



168 THE CAMPAIGN 

through Ofen, and viewed the fearful devastation 
caused by the heroic defence of General Hentzi. 
Both towns, as well as the fortress itself, had suf- 
fered considerably from the bombardment. The 
splendid imperial palace seems to have been 
singled out by Gorgey, for it was a heap of ruins, 
as well as the walls of the fortress. A great 
many buildings in Pesth are injured, but in par- 
ticular the German theatre, the casino, and the 
hotel a-la-Reine d'Angleterre. The suspension- 
bridge between Pesth and Ofen, which is magni- 
ficent, may be considered the finest and most 
splendid on the continent. 

I cannot here refrain from giving a sketch of 
the heroic defence and memorable fall of Ofen, 
which, I think, must interest every class of readers. 

When the Austrian army began to retreat on 
the 21st April, 1849, General Hentzi, a man of 
unflinching character, as well as a highly-accom- 
plished and well-informed soldier, received orders 
to hold Ofen (which scarcely deserves the name 
of a fortress) until the offensive operations should 
have commenced, and the advancing army be 
enabled to relieve the fortress. The garrison 
consisted of one battalion, Archduke Wilhelm, 



IN HUNGARY. 169 

one battalion Accopiere, one battalion Warras- 
diner borderers, four companies Bannalisten, half 
a company of pioneers, one squadron of Arch- 
duke Johann dragoons, and 110 artillerymen — in 
the whole, about 4,000 men. 

Such was the strength of the fortress, which 
was provisioned for two months, when a part of 
the insurgent army, about 30,000 men, under 
Gorgey, turned towards Ofen to take it by storm. 

When Ofen was besieged, the 3rd battalion of 
Archduke Wilhelm occupied the lower, and the 
3rd battalion of the Warasdiner Kreuger border 
regiment the upper water retrenchment ; five bat- 
teries were attached to each battalion. The first 
battalion Accopiere and one battalion Bannalisten 
occupied the fortress, and 95 batteries were placed 
on the walls at different points, some of which 
were mortars, others eighteen and twenty pound- 
ers. 

The head-quarters of the enemy were on the 
Schwabenberg. To the right, on the Blocksberg, 
and behind it, were the detachments of Nagy 
Sandor and Aulich. Bound Leopoldfield those 
of the insurgent leaders, Kmety and Knesis, 



170 THE CAMPAIGN 

besides which troops of Hussars were encamped 
on the surrounding mountains. 

On the 4th of May, Gorgey called on General 
Hentzi to surrender the fortress. The valiant 
General, true to his sovereign and his country, 
returned the answer that it became a brave 
warrior to make. From that day, the enemy 
began to bombard the fortress ; the object Gorgey 
had in view by the bombardment and frequent 
sham-attacks which he made on the fortress, was 
to disturb and tire the garrison. 

The continual bombarding and the already 
advanced destruction of the fortress prompted 
General Hentzi to the bombardment of Pesth on 
the 15th May, which lasted from seven o'clock in 
the morning until twelve at night, and the result 
sufficiently proved the power and ability of the 
artillery. Several invasions were repelled, and 
sorties made on Alt Ofen. 

On the 16th, the enemy commenced his actual 
operations, and erected a breach-battery on the 
side called Spitzberg, by means of which he suc- 
ceeded in opening a breach from ten to twelve 
klafters in length, to the right of the Weissen- 
burger Thor, within three days. 



IN HUNGARY. 171 

On the 19th and 20th, sham-attacks were again 
made by the insurgents, whose object was only to 
fatigue the troops. General Hentzi superintended 
the entrenchments within the bastions, and par- 
ticularly in the vicinity of the breach, in person, 
day and night. On that occasion, Captain Pollim, 
of the engineer corps, met a hero's death. 

On the morning of the 21st, Gorgey undertook 
a decisive attack. The fortress was bombarded 
during the whole night. Towards four o'clock, 
the enemy made an attack with his entire force. 
At the same hour, the fortress was stormed simul- 
taneously from the Christenstadt, the Weissen- 
burger Thor, and below the breach. As the upper 
garrison was too weak to repel the assaulting 
enemy with advantage, General Hentzi ordered 
the ninth division, Wilhelm, in occupation of the 
lower water entrenchments, under the command 
of Captain Schroder, as a reinforcement to the 
fortress; but when this division arrived, the enemy 
had already scaled it in considerable masses, and 
General Hentzi and Captain Schroder led the 
division, sword in hand, to the assault, and once 
more succeeded in repelling the enemy. Alas, 
it was their last act — both fell ! the General, by 

i 2 



172 THE CAMPAIGN 

a shot in the abdomen ; Captain Schroder received 
two shots in the head, and one in the arm. 

The die was cast — the brave leader had breathed 
his last — and the troops were forced to retreat 
before the superiority of the enemy. It was only 
for a moment. Colonel Alnock took the command. 
He spoke not many words, but, pointing to the 
corpse of their heroic general, and those who had 
shared his fate, he led them on again. Many a 
veteran's eye glistened with a tear as he addressed 
them. 

The troops, who understood the silent sorrow 
of their commandant, obeyed, albeit they knew he 
led them on to certain death. Colonel Alnock 
then ordered the four remaining companies of 
Wilhelm infantry, to reinforce the fortress, the 
cannons having been previously spiked. The 13th 
and 15th company took their way through the 
Schloss garten, but they encountered several bat- 
talions of the enemy who had already penetrated. 
The heroic Captain Polland, first Lieutenants 
Shafer, Bellmond, Kieder, and Muller, fell at the 
head of their detachments. The remaining com- 
panies had succeeded in entering by the Wasser- 
thor, and the garrison, which had now melted 



IN HUNGARY. 173 

down to a few detachments, retired, during the 
fiercest fighting in the streets, as far as Ferdinand 
barracks, where they were surrounded by the 
enemy, and literally cut to pieces, mercilessly 
hewn down like so many dogs. 

Whilst this fearful massacre was going on in 
the streets of the fortress, Colonel Alnock has- 
tened to the suspension-bridge, and setting fire 
to the four powder barrels placed there, he blew 
himself up. Such was the last act of this noble 
but fearful tragedy ! 

The defence of the fortress cost us ten officers 
and 160 men ; but, sad and terrible to record, no 
less than twenty officers, and 400 men, were 
brutally and barbarously murdered by the rebels 
after the fortress was taken. What pen can 
calmly record the tortures of 420 human beings, 
expiring in the acutest agony ! What heart can 
remain unmoved, reading the valorous defence of 
the fortress by the garrison, or picturing to him- 
self their struggle for life, or death, against such 
fearful odds. 

I have here portrayed one of the most heroic 
deeds of the army. The defenders of Ofen deserve 
the place of honour in the annals of war in 1849, 



174 THE CAMPAIGN 

and in the latest times. Austria's faithful warriors 
will look back with pride on the heroic, high- 
minded men who became martyrs for their country, 
and fully deserve the veneration of the Emperor, 
the admiration of the army, and the esteem of the 
world. 

General Hentzi's tomb, which he shares with 
fifty-four warriors, is only marked by a cross cut 
from a tree on the spot where he fell, and orna- 
mented by the bloody wreath of laurels so bravely 
won. But it is to be hoped that an everlasting 
monument will exist in the heart of every true 
Austrian for generations to come, and therefore it 
needs no monument of stone. No one can forget 
General Hentzi, who, great as a hero, was not less 
esteemed as a Christian. The very blood freezes 
in my veins, to record the carnage of 420 soldiers, 
butchered and slaughtered, cruelly and brutally 
put to death like so many wild beasts by their 
fellow-creatures. Their heroic exertions in the per- 
formance of their duty, could no more strike the 
chord of sympathy in the hearts of their ruthless 
savage enemies, than their cries of agony rent from 
them, as they fell under the blows of swords, guns, 
and pikes, could awaken their pity. 



IN HUNGARY. 175 

But these noble Magyars — these martyrs to 
despotism, fighting for true liberty, spilling their 
blood to save their country from oppression, who 
viewed the devastation of the Magyar land with 
bleeding hearts, whose very souls recoiled from 
those fearful scenes of savage butchery laid at the 
door of the Austrian army, but which were never 
committed — only laughed and cursed the more, 
scooping out the eyes of some with the ends of 
pikes and swords, cutting the limbs off others 
from the quivering bodies. Nor was their thirst 
for murder quenched until they had waded through 
the pool of blood, flowing from the reeking and 
mutilated corpses of 420 martyrs, whose last 
groans called down the wrath of Heaven on the 
authors of such misdeeds. 

Let us now return to our camp at Rakos. As 
a few hours had been given us to rest, we drove 
to Pesth, determined to make amends for the bad 
fare which we had latterly been compelled to put 
up with. We therefore selected the best hotel, and 
sat down to an excellent dinner, at which the 
champagne was not forgotten. Any one acquainted 
with the hardships of a campaign life, will under- 
stand how much we enjoyed the rare treat of srood 



176 THE CAMPAIGN 

fare. In the afternoon, we made some necessary 
purchases of provisions, and then returned to the 
camp to seek a few hours' repose, previously to 
setting out on our march towards the south. The 
exertions and fatigue consequent on our forced 
marches to Pesth were inconceivable, but cannot 
be compared to the sufferings we endured when 
proceeding from Pesth to the south of the Bannat, 
through the sandy desert of that flat country, 
during a scorching heat, notwithstanding which, 
we left an immense tract of territory behind us, in 
an incredibly short space of time. 

The hardships which fell to our lot at that 
period formed not the least parts of the feats per- 
formed by our army, and proved the excellent 
condition of the troops, as well as the good spirit 
which animated them. On advancing into the 
country, we found that the insurgents had, in 
their retreat, destroyed the water, which they ac- 
complished in some instances, by filling up the 
wells ; in others, by rendering the water unpalate- 
able. 

It is scarcely possible to give a true picture of 
the sufferings of the army during that march. 
Scorched by the sun, we met with no tree that 



IN HUNGARY. 177 

could afford us a moment's shelter, and fatigued 
by the march and heat through the sandy roads, 
we were naturally parched with thirst, and felt 
the want of water so keenly, that we would have 
given much to procure only a few drops. It 
seemed to us as if our insides were on fire ! our 
limbs almost refused to bear us ; our tongues, dry 
and heavy, clung to the palate. In short, the im- 
possibility of allaying our thirst, became most 
agonizing, and yet the troops bore this severe test 
heroically. But the heat increasing, rather than 
diminishing, soon attained 114 degrees, so that 
the very ground seemed to burn under our feet, 
and many soldiers who had braved death in a 
thousand ways, and escaped the cannon-balls, died 
in lingering torture. 

What pen can describe the agony and misery 
we endured during that march, and which brought 
us almost to desperation ! Such sufferings could 
only be sustained by the devotion to our sove- 
reign, and the love we bore our country, for the 
welfare of which we were ready to sacrifice our 
lives. 

In marching through the south of Hungary, we 
had many opportunities of seeing the fata morgana, 

i3 



178 THE CAMPAIGN 

which is only visible in large tracts of flat country, 
and therefore a rare phenomenon. On one occa- 
sion, we could see quite distinctly an enemy's 
camp on a gigantic scale, and discern even the 
coming and going of horsemen, soldiers exercising, 
and every movement they made in the pursuit of 
their different vocations. I must own that it was 
a singular and grand sight, for the objects were 
as distinct as if it had been a reality. We saw 
the fata morgana in the shape of water, and the 
reflection of houses and trees, &c. &c, almost 
every day, but never a complete military camp, 
except the time above mentioned. 

Let us now return to head- quarters. R M. 
Baron Haynau, having remained only a short time 
in Pesth, actively continued operations, which 
he now directed towards the south, with great in- 
trepidity, supported by the main force of the 
Russian army, covered by it on the rear and the 
left flank, and being besides aware that Gorgey's 
corps was kept in check by the position of Prince 

P , he made the following dispositions : — 

F. M. Baron Haynau, at the head of the Imperial 
Russian division, Panintin, and the cavalry divi- 
sions Bichthold, advanced direct across Fehgyhazy 



IN HUNGARY. 179 

to Szegeclin. The first corps, as column of the 
left flank, advanced by Szegled towards Czibak- 
haga, for the purpose of crossing the Theiss, at 
that point, to maintain the connection with the 
main army, and gain the right bank of the Maros, 
whilst the third corps d'armee covered the right 
flank of the main army, and was directed to Alt 
Kanisa, across Therisianopel. 

By this rapid advance, F. M. Baron Haynau 
obtained a threefold advantage : firstly, the already 
united insurgent corps had not time to form a new 
plan of operations, or to make any preparations 
for a strong resistance ; secondly, he came to the 
assistance of the army in the south, as well as 
to the hard-pressed fortress Temiswar, at the 
moment of the greatest danger, and as the Russian 
General had done in the north, thus transposed the 
war in the south, across the Theiss, by which the 
insurgents were therefore pressed into a narrowing 
circle. 

On the 8th of July, the head -quarters of Baron 
Haynau were in Felegyhaza, the third corps 
d'armee stood in Melykut, and the first in Czegled. 
F. M. Baron Haynau remained in Felegyhaza till 
the 1st of August, with the main body of the army, 



180 THE CAMPAIGN 

in order to grant a day's rest to the three corps 
who had reached Therisianopel on the 30th of 
July, and be in aline with them. In the meantime 
the enemy had retired to Szegedin. 

On the 2nd August, Baron Haynau commanded 
the Brigade Simbschen, which had occupied the 
outposts before Puzta Szatimas, to reconnoitre as 
far as the enemy's entrenchments. General Baron 
Simbschen, finding that the entrenchments and 
Alt Szegedin on the right bank of the Theiss, had 
been cleared of the enemy, occupied the town 
until the Brigade Tablonowsky arrived in the 
course of the afternoon, and occupied the most 
important points. A considerable quantity of 
powder and ammunition, as well as great provision 
of corn, were found in the castle. 

Thus the important point Szegedin fell into 
the hands of Baron Haynau, without a stroke, and 
after Guyon's retreat, the communication with the 
army in thesouth was restored. On the third of 
August, the Brigade Tablonowsky, reinforced by 
a part of the Brigade Benedek under the skilful 
guidance of F. M. L. Prince F. Lichtenstein, 
attacked the rear guard of the enemy, which stood 
on the left bank of the Theiss. Whilst the 



IN HUNGARY. 181 

enemy's batteries were silenced by the well-directed 
fire of the Austrian artillery, two battalions of 
the brigade Tablonowsky crossed the Theiss above 
Szegedin in order to fall on the right flank of the 
insurgents. The result of the artillery operations, 
particularly that of the rocket batteries, which set 
the village by Szegedin, where the enemy offered 
an obstinate resistance, on fire, was destructive and 
decisive. 

The enemy, being dislodged from his position on 
the banks, the Brigade Benedek commenced to 
ship over, and driving the enemy from hj-Szegedin, 
threw the bridge across. The insurgents were then 
pursued from position to position, a cannon was 
taken, and many prisoners were made. At eight 
o'clock in the evening the bridge head wasnearly 
taken possession of, when the enemy made another 
violent attack. A battalion of the Imperial Rus- 
sian division was then sent as a reinforcement to 
hj-Szegedin, the balance of the action restored, 
and at ten o'clock the bridge head was occupied 
by our valiant troops. 

At four o'clock at dawn of day, the enemy 
opened a heavy fire from four batteries, directed 
against the tete de ponts, to cover his retreat to 



182 THE CAMPAIGN 

Szoreg, and O-sz-Iwan, where the insurgents 
having succeeded in uniting under the command 
of Dembinski, Messaros, Desejoffy, and Guyon, 
occupied a firm position, with a force of near 
30,000 men, and 50 batteries, with the view of im- 
peding the advance of the allied armies. 

On the 5th, towards four o'clock in the morning 
the Imperial Austrian reserve Corps, the Cavalry 
division, Bechthold, and the Imperial Russian 
division, Panin tin, made an attack from the bridge 
head on the enemy's position, whilst the cavalry 
advanced to surround the left flank of the insur- 
gents. The reserve batteries drove towards the 
enemy's batteries, placed behind a dike. The 
development of an imposing number of batte- 
ries, the close advance of the reserve corps, assisted 
by a brigade of the Russian division, Panintin, 
decided the battle in a few hours. By sunset, the 
insurgents were driven from all their I entrench- 
ments, and the dike Szoreg was taken by assault, 
and the enemy in full flight. We captured five 
cannons, and made many prisoners. The allied 
armies, it must be acknowledged, had fought with 
signal bravery that day. We now advanced with- 
out rest by Szambu to Nagy St. Miklos, which 
we reached on the second day 



IN HUNGARY. 183 



CHAPTER IX. 

St. Miklos— Kindness of the Inhabitants— Their Aversion 
to Magyarism — Cruelty of the Hungarians — Destruction 
of a Village by the Insurgents — Heart-rending Scenes — 
The Church of St. Miklos— The Sexton's Account— The 
Casino — The Next Morning — My Host's Liberality — My 
Embarrassment — My Landlord's Daughter — Perjanos — 
Szekusit- -Arrival of a Russian Colonel — An Impromptu 
—Dance — A Dream — Pursuit of the Enemy towards 
Temeswar — Defence of that place — Hardships endured 
by the Garrison — F. M. L. Baron Kinkowina — The 
Relief of Temeswar — A Deathblow to the Insurgents 
— Kossuth resigns. 

St. Miklos is a very neat little town on the 
banks of the Maros, and the inhabitants, mostly 
Rascians and Romans, are devoted to the 
government, and consequently of anti-revolu- 
tionary principles. They received us in the 
most kindly manner, and with marked civility ; 
each citizen offered quarters to officer and pri- 



184 THE CAMPAIGN 

vate, whom he made it a point of honour to 
overwhelm with kindness and attention 

I was quartered in the house of the Syndicus, 
whose extreme politeness quite embarrassed me, 
but it must be acknowledged, that having been 
deprived of the comforts, I might almost say 
necessaries of life, for so long a period, and for 
months slept under the sky, to which may be 
added, that with rare exceptions we met with 
undisguised aversion and ill-will on the part of 
the population of the towns we passed through, 
who, deluded and deceived by the Kossuth fac- 
tion, were tutored to look on us as their oppres- 
sors, until at last the veil dropped from their eyes, 
and the real truth was disclosed to them. We 
were therefore only more keenly alive to the 
kindness shewn us, and yielded to the seductive " 
influence exercised over us by the expressions of 
gratitude which fell from the lips of the simple- 
hearted and sincere inhabitants, who hailed us as 
their deliverers. Sweet lips, too, poured forth 
their thanks, and pictured in glowing, truthful 
language all they had suffered. Mourning dwelt 
in their hearts, for many had lost some dear rela- 
tive, others still trembled for their country. 



IN HUNGARY. 185 

The Banat is the most fertile tract of country 
in the Austrian empire, and celebrated for the 
excellent breed of cattle, wheat, and wine. The 
Banat is mostly populated by Romans, Rascians, 
and Germans, who are thoroughly averse to 
Magyarism, nor was the late war calculated to 
alter their feelings in that respect, for the Hun- 
garians did not spare their country, and have left 
fearful traces of their invasion, which it will take 
centuries to obliterate from the memories of the 
population. Entire villages, particularly those 
populated by Rascians, were set on fire and 
burned to the ground. The inhabitants, children, 
men and women, were mercilessly butchered, and 
often exposed to the grossest insults, previously to 
their being put to death. 

I could scarcely have believed (had I not been 
an eye-witness in some instances) all the atrocities 
committed by some of the savage hordes, which 
were to be found in the insurgent army, whose 
misdeeds were so carefully concealed from the 
knowledge of Europe, that they have unfortu- 
nately never been made public. 

It is invariably imprudent, foolish perhaps, to 
place utter reliance on the statement of a party 



186 THE CAMPAIGN 

or the untruthful work of some author, whose 
only merit is a prolific imagination. I should 
therefore have been inclined to believe, and were 
it only for charity's sake, that some of the many 
barbarous deeds recorded of Hungarian invasion 
were exaggerated, had I read of them merely in 
a book, but I have marched through the devas- 
tated villages, where a death-like stillness reigned, 
the inhabitants having either fallen under the 
swords of the enemy, or found death in the flames 
that consumed their dwellings. I have seen these 
things with my own eyes, and my ears have 
listened to tales that would fill the breasts of honest 
men with indignation and make the blood run 
cold in their veins. 

Never while I live shall I forget the appearance 
of one village which had been razed to the ground. 
We marched through without seeing a living soul, 
and yet it had been once thickly populated. A 
sickly feeling stole over us as we entered some of 
the ruins, for we could trace marks of blood where 
whole families had been massacred. What fearful 
tales could those walls record, what a dreadful 
sight was that village now, how painful the contrast 
of the bright sun as its rays shone on the 



IN HUNGARY. 187 

blackened ruins around, and even the birds' cheer- 
ful note seemed to warble forth a reproach to the 
deeds of man ! No living being, nothing that 
could speak of the past, met our horror-stricken 
eyes — we turned away, and our hearts beat with 
hatred and indignation for Kossuth the pampered 
idol of the hour. The following particulars were 
afterwards given me from unquestionable au- 
thority. 

It appears, that on the occasion of a detach- 
ment passing through the village, they had, like 
us, gazed with horror around them, when suddenly 
a figure emerged from one of the blackened ruins, 
which proved to be a man. The effect was start- 
ing — emaciated, with sunken eyes, and white hair 
streaming round his hollow features, that 
ghostly-looking being was indeed a man, the only 
inhabitant who had escaped the ruthless hands of 
the Hungarians. He gazed at first wildly round 
nd then advanced — he would have kissed the 
skirts of the soldiers' coats with joy — and then 
clasping his hands, with sudden despair he cried 
" too late !" and tore his hair, then pointing to the 
ruins from which he had emerged, he said slowly, 
" I have buried them, that I may live on their 



^^^^^^ 



188 THE CAMPAIGN 

grave." He spoke incoherently, but from all he 
said the officer who related this to me gathered, 
that the male inhabitants fought to the last, but 
were overpowered ; the combat was soon over, and 
then commenced the fearful insults to the women, 
and the general massacre. 

This unfortunate man's wife and daughter were 
murdered before his eyes. Driven to desperation* 
he rushed upon the murderers, and from that mo- 
ment he remembered nothirg more, except that 
he was felled to the ground by a blow on the 
head. When he recovered, the enemy was gone, 
and beside him lay the corpses of his youthful 
daughter, only sixteen years old, and his wife. 
He dug a grave, buried them, and would not 
quit the spot ; but his eyes sparkled with deep 
hatred as he told his tale of sorrow. Pointing to 
a little elevated ground, he gasped forth : " From 
thence I saw the flames gradually consume my 
native village, and heard the shrieks and groans 
of some of the victims who were still alive, but 
unable to escape, and I could not help them." 

The hot tears dropped on his clenched hands, 
and then a vacant smile announced that reason 
often fled. That one night had turned his hair 



IN HUNGARY. 189 

to grey. Such scenes cannot be forgotten — such 
barbarous acts cannot be forgiven. The hatred 
called up by these deeds of Vandalism was as 
implacable as it was deep. 

I will now return to St. Miklos. After dinner, 
we repaired to lionize the town and church. As 
I had served in a Wallachian regiment in the 
early part of my military career, I had studied 
the language, with which I was well acquainted, 
and consequently became the interpreter on this 
occasion ; and I was not sorry to have an oppor- 
tunity of speaking and hearing this musical lan- 
guage again, after a lapse of so many years. We 
bent our steps at once to the Greek Church, 
which belongs to the Wallachians and Rascians. 

The exterior of the building is simple but 
handsome ; the interior is extremely rich, parti- 
cularly the high altar, and the paintings, which 
are richly gilt, and ornamented in the most costly 
way, after the manner of the Greek Church, The 
sexton, delighted to find an Imperial officer with 
whom he could converse in his native language, 
overwhelmed me with complaints of the dreadful 
treatment they, too, had received at the hands of 
the Hungarian column who had passed through. 



190 THE CAMPAIGN 

They spared nothing ; and finally broke into 
the house of God, committed the grossest mis- 
deeds, desecrated the high altar and the pictures. 
They also tore down a crown which was placed in 
the church ; and, in fact, there was no scandal, 
no outrage, however vile, that they did not per- 
petrate. It is no wonder that such gross miscon- 
duct only increased the hatred already subsisting 
between the two races — nothing was sacred in the 
eyes of these savages, not even the house of God I 

But what could be expected, when we consider 
that these bravoes were in the pay of those who 
profaned religion by making it a plea for car- 
nage and scandal, and enshrouding themselves 
in the threadbare cloak of hypocrisy, under 
which lurked blasphemy and perjury, wrought 
the ruin of their country ? 

I was also informed at St. Miklos, that where 
the Hungarians passed through, they carried 
away by force all young men able to bear arms, 
and distributed them into different regiments; 
but, with the exception of three, all returned. 
This system they also tried in other districts; 
but on all occasions the Bannatians ran away as 
soon as an opportunity offered — which proves 



IN HUNGARY. 191 

that the enthusiasm so falsely reported to exist, 
was by no means so general as it was believed 
to be. It was not without an object, however, 
that these false reports were spread, nor did they 
fail to bear fruit ; because, in many districts, 
the population learning that those whom they 
knew to be most loyal had joined the in- 
surgent army, naturally began to think that the 
insurgents must be in the right, and when it 
was, then, whispered by emissaries of the wily 
Kossuth that he was fighting for the young Em- 
peror (this report was circulated by Kossuth 
before the Emperor Ferdinand abdicated), loyalty 
was lulled by a deceptive, dangerous, but judi- 
ciously-applied opiate . 

The poor inhabitants little guessed what a few 
months would reveal, and still less that of the 
thousands who filled the ranks of the insurgent 
army, many hundreds fought only when batteries 
were placed behind them. 

Even in the purer Magyar districts, there are 
many parts where the ill-fated;' civil war and its 
authors are thoroughly condemned, and several 
families actually applied to Government for per- 
mission to change their name, because a member 



192 



THE CAMPAIGN 



had stained it by siding with the insurgents. The 
Pesth newspapers have brought before the public 
several instances of this strong condemnation of 
disloyalty on the part of the Magyar families. 

The town itself was soon lionized, and we then 
hurried to the casino, where our regimental band 
was playing, and had collected all the elite of the 
town. We found a great deal of beauty as- 
sembled, and, yielding to the seductive influence 
of the society in which we found ourselves, forgot 
all but the present moment ; and, when the day 
was over, regretted deeply that duty compelled us 
to leave so agreeable a town the next morning. 
It was, perhaps, more advantageous, after all, 
that we should not have had an opportunity of 
becoming better acquainted with the inhabitants, 
some amongst the fairer sex being singularly 
beautiful. Handsome, expressive eyes, sweet 
smiles, and fascinating manners, are not the best 
incentives to hurry us to the battle-field ; and 
some of our gay young officers must undoubtedly 
have carried away wounds less eaaily healed than 
those inflicted by the insurgents. 

I rose at an early hour the next morning, and 
found an excellent breakfast prepared for me by 



IN HUNGARY. 193 

my host. Having partaken freely of all the good 
things placed before me, I bade the good people a 
hasty farewell, and was about to mount my horse 
when the landlord stopped me, adding that he 
had a particular request to make, which he begged 
I would promise not to refuse. A certain huski- 
ness in his voice, proceeding, undoubtedly, from 
emotion, touched me to the heart, and I replied 
that I would certainly not refuse so loyal a patriot 
anything which it was in my power to grant. 
I cannot exactly remember what I anticipated the 
nature of the request would prove, but I have 
a faint recollection of being prepared to render 
some important service for all the kindness I had 
received, when, to my astonishment and consider- 
able embarrassment, a huge ham and hamper of 
wine made its appearance. I had suffered too 
much privation not to appreciate fully the value 
of this gift, but, nevertheless, I was heartily 
ashamed of myself. Embarrassment must have 
been portrayed in every lineament of my features, 
for I perceived the landlord's very pretty daughter 
peeping from behind the window-curtain, smiling 
archly, and displaying her beautiful teeth, she 
took care to shade her large black eyes with her 

K 



194 THE CAMPAIGN 

little white hands, nevertheless, I could read in 
them that she had had something to do with the 
provisions offered, and was now enjoying my dis- 
comfiture. 

I returned my sincere thanks to my worthy 
host, and saluting his fair daughter, gallopped off 
to the head of my battalion. 

It was about six o'clock in the morning when 
we left St. Miklos ; our first station was Perjanos ; 
on reaching it, we found that the enemy was 
within about fifteen English miles of us. In 
order to obtain some certitude of his movements, 
two officers were sent on patrol, who brought us 
news that the enemy stood by Arad, and our 
corps d'armee by Vinga. We therefore con- 
tinued our march as far as Szekusit, where we 
awaited further commands for which we had ap- 
plied. In the meantime, we encamped in the 
village and about it. It fell to my lot to be quar- 
tered in the village, for which I was not sorry. We 
found that our advanced guard had overtaken a de- 
tachment of insurgents, who were unable to proceed, 
owing to the rapid advance of our army, and made 
nineteen prisoners, as well as several waggon 
loads of military stores, of which we immediately 



IN HUNGARY. 195 

took possession, and divided the most useful 
articles amongst our men. In the village itself, 
we found two magazines containing linen, accou- 
trements, saddles, leather, and ropes, which the 
inhabitants gave up to us, as having been left 
behind by the insurgents in their disordered 
flight. 

This village is also situated in the Banat, and 
when the inhabitants discovered that I could speak 
their native language, they came to me in a body 
to speak of all they had suffered from Hungarian 
oppression. There again I listened to tales of 
woe, heard of the cruelties committed with im- 
punity by these Magyar heroes. Szekusit has about 
2,000 inhabitants, and is a very neat cheerful-look- 
ing village, which can boast of broad streets 
with elm-trees on either side. On the Sunday, 
we had an opportunity of admiring the Wal- 
lachian women in their holiday attire, whose 
natural charms were not a little enhanced by 
the picturesque appearance of their semi-oriental 
dress. They are a flne handsome race, their 
aquiline nose, black hair and eyes, and, in fact, 
truly Roman features, proved them to have re- 
tained the type of their origin. The men are 
( k2 



196 THE CAMPAIGN 

handsome and powerful, the women, with rare 
exceptions, faultless beauties. 

We had just sat down to our mess in the hotel, 
when we received an announcement that a Russian 
colonel with a general Staff-officer, and a suite of 
100 Cossacks and two squadrons of Hussars, had 
arrived in quest of the point (Vunion between the 
corps of Prince Paskiewitch and that of Baron 
Haynau. I was ordered to receive him, ascertain 
his wishes, and see that he, as also his suite, were 
well provided for. The colonel was an elderly 
gentleman of fine military bearing, and extremely 
polite, but, as he did not speak French very 
fluently, our conversation was naturally short. 
1 was delighted to fine a first-rate linguist in the 
general staff-officer, as it saved me the torture of 
making several ineffectual endeavours to wade 
through a conversation kept up in Russian on one 
side, and a mixture of Polish and Bohemian on 
my part. I gave the required information as far 
as it lay in my power to do, and invited them to 
join us in the square, where our band, as well as 
that of the second rifle battalion, would perform 
in the afternoon. They promised to do so as soon 
as duty permitted, and accordingly towards even- 



"IN HUNGARY. 197 

ing, several of trie officers of the Russian Hussars 
made their appearance in the camp, which pre- 
sented a gay scene. All our officers, as well as 
those of the second rifle battalion, had assembled, 
and the inhabitants of the place, thoroughly black 
and yellow, came with their wives and daughters, 
many of whom were so remarkably beautiful, that 
they attracted our attention. Our band first 
played compositions of Bellini, Meyerbeer, and 
Balfe, to which the fair sex listened with rapture, 
but when the fascinating waltzes and polkas of 
Lanner, Strauss, and Labitzky, were struck up 
with tantalizing spirit by both bands, the effect 
was electric, The Russian officers beat time, 
whilst our fair guests smiled, which we accepted 
as a signal that a dance would be found agreeable 
by all parties. 

We soon became acquainted, introductions took 
place, the ground was mechanically cleared of 
bye-standers who made way, and in a quarter of an 
hour we whirled round and round, and round 
again, as if that were to be our last ball. I never 
spent a pleasanter evening in my life, though I 
did not, perhaps, enjoy myself as much as many 
of my companions, for my thoughts had wandered 



198 THE CAMPAIGN 

far from that gay scene, and I threw myself under 
an elm-tree. I first gave way to sweet reflections, 
and then the music became fainter and fainter — I 
heard it still but it was far away. I thought 
myself transported into some distant land, and 
dreamed that instead of music I heard the gay and 
joyous laugh of children; the scene was changed 
— familiar faces stood around me, some one whom 
I could not see laid his hand on my shoulder, and 
in that moment I started up and sighed. 

It was partly truth and partly fiction ; the laugh 
by which I was awoke proceeded from my brother 
officers, who had discovered me asleep. Yes, to 
my shame be it said, the music and my thoughts 
had lulled me to sleep. The dance was over, the 
music silenced, the inhabitants had retired. I rose 
refreshed, although perhaps with regret that my 
dream had been disturbed ; and, having escorted 
the Russian officers home, we sought repose. 

Let us now return to the military operations. 
The third corps d'armee, under the command of 
F. M. L. Baron Kamberg, had forced the passage 
across the Theiss by Kanisa, during the proceed- 
ings of our troops at Szegedin. The first corps 
d'armee was at Mako on the 4th, and threatened 



IN HUNGARY. 199 

to cut off the retreat of the enemy. As the entire 
army was now again united, the enemy was pur- 
sued towards Temiswar, and on the 8th the head- 
quarters of F. M. Baron Haynau were at Sovrin, 
and the army had advanced on the line of Sajteuy 
Kaey, Sz Peter, Pesgak, and across Csatad, as far 
as Hatzfold, from Malso. F. M. S. Count 
Schlick had sent a flying column of Mezohegyes, 
by which the Government stud of 3000 horses was 
saved. 

The enemy had driven his corps from Szegedin 
towards Temiswar, and having succeeded in effect- 
ing a union with Vetter, intended to all appearances 
to accept battle and to make a standbefore Temis- 
war, which he was probably encouraged to do by 
the force at his command, which included artillery 
to the number of 100 guns. 

On the 9th August, F. M. L. Baron Haynau 
directed the third corps d'armee, and the Cavalry 
division Wallmoden (formerly Bechthold), sta- 
tioned at Csatad, and the Russian division Panin- 
tin, which stood at Sovrin, to advance across Sillet 
toward Kiss Buskerek, and at the same time 
ordered the reserve corps stationed at Peszak to 
Hodony and Karany, in order to take the enemy 
in the right flank. 



200 THE CAMPAIGN 

The first corps d'armee was disposed of as 
follows: — The flank columns were directed on 
either bank of the Maros to Pieska and Foulak, 
with the main troops from Kacy and St. Peter to 
Monoster and Vinga. When the third corps 
d'armee and the Cavalry division advanced from 
Buskerek in order to attain an advantageous 
position, the enemy, who immediately developed 
a considerable number of batteries and cavalry 
divisions, offered a strong resistance beyond the 
little stream which runs across the road, and suc- 
ceeded in making several circuitous movements, by 
which the left flank was threatened. 

Upon this, F. M. Baron Haynau ordered the 
Russian division, Panintin, with the batteries, and, 
later, the reserve batteries, to move into order of 
battle line. The development of those masses, 
and the effective fire of the artillery, silenced the 
enemy's guns. Then a general advance was or- 
dered : the Cavalry Brigade Lederer covered the 
right flank, the Cavalry Brigade Simbschen the 
left wing of the line. At 4 o'clock in the after- 
noon, the reserve corps of Prince Lichtenstein 
appeared on the field and advanced upon the right 
flank of the enemy, who then retired upon the 



IN HUNGARY. £01 

whole line, and towards evening also retreated 
from the strongly occupied wood behind the 
Beregzaboch. 

In the meantime, F. M. L. Count Schlick had 
advanced with his corps as far as Monoster. The 
troops behaved most bravely, and evinced a per- 
severance worthy of admiration ; the artillery in 
particular had distinguished itself, for the battle 
had, with the exception of a few successful cavalry 
charges, been confined to a seven hours' cannonade. 

I cannot refrain from mentioning the distin- 
guished services rendered by the director of the 
field artillery, G. M. Von Hanslab, on the days 
of Szegedin, Szoreg, and Temiswar, for it was 
under that gallant General's guidance that the 
artillery was in this campaign made use of by 
Austria for the first time in great and imposing 
masses, which was throughout attended with most 
brilliant success. 

The same evening, a few hours after the battle, 
Baron Haynau, at the head of two cavalry divi- 
sions, and covered by a few battalions of the division 
Panintin, entered Temiswar, which was relieved 
in the moment of the most imminent danger, after 
having been subject to so many calamities. The 

K 3 



202 THE CAMPAIGN 

scenes witnessed on the entry of the Austrian 
troops into Temiswar were heart-rending. 

The fortress exposed to the enemy's cannon, 
and during so long a period, and after uninterupted 
fighting, seemed on the point of falling in. The 
interior of the town resembled a ruin, and the 
bombardment of the enemy on the 11th of June 
with thirty and sixty pounder bombs, might be 
traced in the many houses quite unroofed, others 
partly damaged, but not a single one uninjured; 
several, quite demolished, were only a heap of 
ruins, and all more or less fearfully dilapidated. 
The garrison as well as the inhabitants looked 
pale and emaciated, but no wonder when we 
consider what they suffered. For some time past, 
they had been living on horse-flesh, and even that 
was only to be obtained at a high price. Yet 
notwithstanding that typhus and cholera raged 
with unabated fury, that the town was an hospital, 
one-fourth of the garrison dead, one-fourth of 
them unavailable, because on the sick list, and 
amongst whom were no less than 60 officers, yet 
in the face of all the sufferings consequent on 
their position, the brave Commandant, F. M. L. 
Baron Kukowina, sent the Parlamentaire, who 



IN HUNGARY. 203 

had come on the part of the insurgent chief to 
offer capitulation, back with the answer that the 
garrison would defend the fortress to the last 
cartridge. 

The opening of the doors, which had been 
closed since the 25 th of April, the meeting with 
the comrades who had fought with double energy 
in remembering all their sufferings, was truly 
affecting. It was one of those scenes which we 
can picture to ourselves but not describe. The 
heroic garrison had melted away considerably, for 
the cholera increased as their provisions diminished, 
and had in the latter period carried off 60 and 80 
victims per day. 

It was deeply lamented by the army that the 
valiant veteran F. M. L. Baron Kukowina, the 
commandant, fell a victim to this epidemic, a few 
weeks after the relief of the fortress. 

The army under Dembinski, Messaros, Desweffy, 
and Guy on, having been completely beaten through 
by the brilliant relief of Temiswar by our troops, 
the Hungarian question might be considered as 
decided. Gorgey's last attempt to unite himself, 
across Kadna by Sugos, with the different insur- 
gent corps in the South of Hungary who had 



204 THE CAMPAIGN 

been beaten and forced behind Temiswar by the 
Austrian army, proved abortive, and had been 
baffled by the whole combined operations of the 
two Imperial armies. F. M. L. Count Schlick had 
also succeeded in repelling Gorgey's advanced 
guard, which attempted to effect a passage by 
Arad, most brilliantly, and with considerable loss 
on the part of the enemy. 

It was at that time, that the revolutionary 
government sought to commence negotiations with 
Prince Paskiewitch, who refused to agree to any 
other terms except unconditional surrender. 

Kossuth, who had himself given up his cause 
as lost, had resigned, and Gorgey was elected 
Dictator. 



IN HUNGARY. 205 



CHAPTER X. 

Gorgey's Surrender at Villagos — Respective Position of 
the Allied Imperial Forces and the Insurgent Army, 
previously to the Surrender at Villagos — Position of 
Arad at the Outbreak of the Revolution — Our Brigade 
encamps before Arad — Negotiations relative to the 
Surrender of the Fortress — The Last Outpost Skirmish 
— Capitulation of Arad — Bern and Guy on — The different 
Insurgent Corps lay down their Arms — Count Vecsay 
and his Troops — Departure of the Leaders of the Rebel- 
lion for Turkey — General Panintin — Valour of the 
Russian Troops — Surrender of Peterwardein — The 
Austro-Russian Troops before Comorn — The Capitula- 
lation of Comorn — Prince Paskiewitch and F. Z. M. 
Baron Haynau — Arrival of Gorgey's Corps at Arad — 
Visit to the Prisoners' Camp — Captain M. — Madame M. 
— Condition of the Insurgent Troops — Departure from 
Arad — Arrival in Grosswardein — Baron B. — The Catho- 
lic Bishop — Keszthely. 

The last act of the Hungarians, the surrender 
of Gorgey, with his army, at Villagos, has been 
commented on so differently in foreign countries, 



206 THE CAMPAIGN 

the views and opinions on that head are so con- 
tradictory, the statements so incorrect, that I shall 
endeavour to give a condensed sketch of the re- 
spective positions of the belligerent parties at that 
period, which cannot fail to convince an impartial 
reader that Gorgey's position was not tenable, 
and that his surrender was inevitable. The only 
alternative at his command being to fight another 
battle, which, from the position of our troops, he 
must have lost, and whereby he would have un- 
necessarily sacrificed thousands. 

The position of the allied armies was as fol- 
lows : — 

The main body of the Russian troops at Gross- 
wardein. The Third Corps had advanced as far 
as Koros. General Luders was on his way from 
Carlsburg, in Transylvania. General Grotenhulm 
in Klausenburg. Towards New Arad stood the 
Austrian corps under the command of General 
Count Schlick, and at Temiswar the main body of 
the Austrian army, under the command of F. M. 
Z. Baron Haynau. 

The insurgent army stood, without any hope 
of effecting a union, in the following position :— - 
The corps under the command of Gorgey at the 



IN HUNGARY. 



207 



Karos, and that under the command of Bern, on 
the retreat by Lugos. 

Gorgey could not, therefore, but see the utter 
hopelessness of success, and the uselessness of 
further resistance. He therefore surrendered 
unconditionally, and laid down the arms of his 
entire corps, consisting of 30,000 men, 5,000 
chargers, 3,000 draught horses, and 144 guns, 
before the Imperial Russian army, on the 13th 
of August, at Villagos. Gorgey also undertook 
to exert his influence with the other insurgent 
leaders, and prevail on them to surrender without 
further resistance. 

The Brigade to which my regiment belonged, 
was already en route for Transylvania ; but 
Gorgey's surrender rendering a reinforcement 
unnecessary, we received a counter-order, with 
instructions to march to Arad, of which I will 
give some particulars. 

The town of Arad is intersected by the river 
Maros, and forms two towns, New and Old Arad, 
the former, rather an insignificant town, belongs 
to the Banat, and was always opposed to Kos- 
suth's faction, the greater part of the inhabitants 
being Germans and Romans. The latter is a neat, 



208 THE CAMPAIGN 

pretty town, on the right bank of the Maros, and 
belongs to Hungary, wherefore the inhabitants 
were inclined towards Magyarism. 

The fortress of Arad is devoid of interest, ex- 
cept in a military point of view, and is about two 
thousand paces distant from Old and New Arad,- 
At the outbreak of the revolution, this small 
fortress was occupied by 500 men — that is, the 
second battalion of the garrison — a small num- 
ber of half-invalids, and about 150 men of the 
Hungarian infantry regiment, Don Miguel ; but 
of this body of troops, which was commanded by 
the veteran Field Marshal Lieutenant Berger, 
only 300 men would be considered as fit for ser- 
vice. Thirty-nine batteries were placed upon the 
walls of the fortress, which have a circumference 
of 900 klafters. Provisions and ammunition 
were at a low ebb. As for money, there was none. 

Such was the position of the Imperial garrison 
when hostilities were commenced by the enemy 
on the 6th of October, 1848. On the 27th 
October, the insurgents had increased their be- 
sieging force to 20,000 men, with seventy-two 
batteries of heavy calibre. The enemy then 
made several assaults, which were successfully re- 



IN HUNGARY. 209 

pelled by our troops ; but provisions became so 
scarce, that the garrison was compelled to kill 
horses. 

The superior number of the insurgent forces 
before Arad, as well as the complete want of provi- 
sions and ammunition, induced the valorous F. M. 
L. Berger to consent to an honourable capitulation, 
the conditions being free departure of the garrison, 
which took place on the 1st July. The insurgent 
Chief, Danijanich, then took the command of 
this fortress, which post he maintained during the 
war. 

When our brigade encamped before New Arad, 
and in a few days later Old Arad, the fortress, now 
besieged for the second time, was still in the hands 
of the insurgents, although the surrender of the 
fortress was expected almost daily, negotiations 
to that effect having been commenced by the 
garrison, who had sent Parlamentaires to Kissy 
Jeno, to meet General Butur on his way to 
F. Z. M. Baron Haynau, whither he had been 
sent by Prince Paskiewitch, with the important 
news of Gorgey's surrender. 

The insurgents offered to capitulate to General 
Rudiger on honourable conditions. On receiving 



210 



THE CAMPAIGN 



this report from General Buturhu, General Rudiger 
directed him to send for Gorgey, who was at Kissy 
Jeno, accompanied by the chief of the general 
staff of the Srd corps, in order that he might re- 
present to the Par lame ntaires the incongruity of 
their demands. 

On his arrival, Gorgey declared himself ready 
to write to the commandant of Arad, and induce 
him to agree to an unconditional surrender ; he 
at the same time also addressed two letters con- 
taining similar requests to the commandants of 
Peterwardein and Comorn. Whilst this nego- 
tiation had been carried on, Colonel Chrulew of 
the artillery reported to General Rudiger, that 
on the occasion of his passing in the vicinity of 
Arad, when en route to put himself in communi- 
cation with F. Z- M. Baron Haynau, the garrison 
had offered to allow him to occupy the fortress, 
as soon as he should be provided with the necessary 
orders from General Rudiger. General Buturhu, 
having received the letters of General Rudiger 
and Gorgey to the commandant of the fortress at 
Arad, repaired thither. He reached Arad on the 
15th, and sent both letters to the commandant, who 
gave his reply at 10 o'clock in the morning of the 



IN HUNGARY. 211 

16th ; upon this the commandant was offered two 
hours to consider, with the intimation that at 12 
o'clock the Russian squadrons of Colonel Chru- 
lew's corps would quit Old Arad, and all commu- 
nication between the Russians' and the fortress 
cease, in which case the blockading and taking 
of the fortress would then be left to Count 
Schlick. 

After a lapse of two hours, a Major of the staff 
appeared before General Buturhu as Parlamen- 
taire, and brought the conditions of the capitula- 
tion, wherein a general amnesty for the garrison 
was demanded. General Buturhu, however, 
insisted on their unconditional surrender, and de- 
clared that the garrison would be dealt with pre- 
cisely as Gorgey's corps. At the request of the 
Parlamentaire, General Buturhu repaired him- 
self to the commandant of the fortress, and after 
an hour's negotiation it was decided to deliver the 
fortress into the hands of the Russians on the 
following conditions : — To grant, 1st, 48 hours to 
the garrison to quit ; 2nd, On the 17th at 3 o'clock 
the garrison in the fortress should stand in rank 
and file, lay down their arms, andbe escorted to Sar- 
kad by one squadron of Hussars and 50 Cossacks ; 



212 THE CAMPAIGN 

3rd, After their departure the fortress with all 
the government property, arms, and ammunition, 
was to be given up to the Austrians. The officers 
of the garrison having agreed to those terms, the 
capitulation was carried into effect on the 17th 
August. 

It may be imagined that we were not a little 
delighted at the surrender of the fortress, which 
we had awaited with extreme impatience, for all 
hostilities having ceased since Gorgey's surrender, 
the service allotted to us was one of the most 
disagreeable for the soldier. The day preceding 
the capitulation of Arad we had an outpost skir- 
mish, which I believe was almost the last of the 
Hungarian campaign, and the origin of this 
unnecessary attack was ludicrous enough. 

The insurgents drove a herd of oxen, about 
120 in number, to water into the Moros, but the 
poor animals, probably tired of the dry food 
offered them within the fortress, and enticed by 
the tantalizing green of the meadows on the 
opposite bank, swam across to us, and were of 
course at once taken possession of by our men. 
The enemy, enraged at being thus deprived of 
their cattle, immediately sent a strong infantry 



IN HUNGARY. 213 

patrol, which was followed by a detachment of 
Hussars in boats, who all made for our shores. 
When they had come within shot, a hot fire was 
opened en both sides, which ended in the retreat 
of the patrol, and a few were wounded on our side. 

This superfluous hostility might have been 
avoided, since it was already generally known 
that the fortress would surrender the next day, 
with all provisions and war materials. We 
occupied the fortress on the 1 7th of August, and 
on the 28th received an order to take up quarters 
in Old Arad. 

It is scarcely possible to describe the joy with 
which we broke up our gipsey-like huts ; though, 
for my part, I could not find myself at home in 
the confinement of a room for many a day, after 
having been accustomed to a four months' conti- 
nual bivouac. But I must acknowledge that I 
quickly learned to appreciate comforts which I 
had been deprived of for so long a period, and 
soon felt the difference between a house and a 
camp, and was keenly alive to that, between a warm 
dry bed and the wet grass. I no longer watched 
the clouds, in unpleasant anticipation of a cold 
shower-bath, and once more listened with perfect 



214 THE CAMPAIGN 

indifference to the rain pattering on my windows. 
The garrison who capitulated in the fortress of 
Arad consisted of 3768 men, besides which no 
less than 143 guns, as well as considerable provi- 
sions, were found. General Buturhu gave the 
fortress into the hands of General Count Schlick 
the same evening. 

When Gorgey's surrender became known, no 
further resistance was attempted by the different 
insurgent corps, who laid down their arms, in con- 
sequence of which all hostilities ceased. I will, 
therefore, now give a short account of the most 
important capitulations which followed that of 
Arad almost immediately, including Peterwardein 
and Munkacz. General Luders having been in- 
formed that a strong corps, with 15 guns, 
had rallied under Bern and Guyon, between 
Dobra and Cesm, sent a Parlamentaire to the 
commandant, calling on him to surrender, but 
Bern refused to listen to any proposals of capitu- 
lation, upon which General Luders ordered 
General Engelhardt to take up a strong position 
at Deva, which had been blown up accidentally. 

Shortly after, however, Parlamentaires were 
sent on the part of the insurgents, who stated that 



IN HUNGARY. 215 

Bern and Guyon, having taken their departure, 
the corps were willing tcfcapitulate. The neces- 
sary arrangements were immediately made by 
General Luders, and on the afternoon of the 
18th, twelve battalions infantry, and eight squa- 
drons of cavalry, under the command of Colonel 
Beckers, laid down their arms, and gave up fifty 
batteries. At the same time, the Magyar de- 
tachment at Debra and Hazeg expressed them- 
selves willing to surrender. 

After the battle of Temiswar, and the conse- 
cutive events, F. M. Z. Baron Haynau ordered 
a strict pursuit of the different insurgent corps 
who had separated on their flight, and hurried, 
one part from Lugos by Focset, to the Maros 
towards Deva ; the other across Karausches 
towards Mehadia. The third corps d'armee, the 
reserve, and the cavalry division Wallmoden, 
were employed in the pursuit. On the 19th, a 
Magyar division, under the command of Lazar, 
consisting of 5000 men, infantry and cavalry, and 
19 batteries, surrendered by Karansebes to the 
Imperial Austrian Brigade of General Baron 
Simbschen, and on the same day, 72 batteries, 
and 100 baggage waggons, which had been 



216 THE CAMPAIGN 

left behind by Vecsey 's corps, fell into the 
hands of the Imperial troops. On the 22nd, the 
corps of Vecsey, consisting of 555 officers, 7443 
men, two batteries, eight flags, seven standards, 
and 1667 cavalry horses, laid down their arms to 
General Rudiger, at Barosy-Jeno, and Count 
Vecsey himself, at the head of 2000 men, sur- 
rendered to the Russian troops before Gross - 
wardien. 

On the 16th August, Field Marshal Prince 
Paskeiwitch had ordered General Karlowitch to 
the Berg Comitats, in the east of Hungary, in 
order to clear it of the different insurgent corps, 
and to observe the fortress of Munkaez. General 
K , having acted with the greatest circum- 
spection, the fortress, consisting of 361 men, 
and 2\ guns, surrendered on the 20th August to 
the Russian General, who then returned to 
Kaschan, having occupied Munkaez with one 
battalion. On the 25th, the insurgent corps 
under Kossiney, 12,000 men, and 56 cannons, 
had laid down their arms to General Grotenhichn. 

Thus, the most important part of the insurgent 
army in Hungary was dissolved, the different 
corps had surrendered mostly to the Russian 



IN HUNGARY. 217 

Russian army, some to the Austrian army, and 
the rest had succeeded in escaping to Turkey, with 
a considerable number of superior officers, and 
insurgent leaders, amongst whom were Kossuth, 
Bern, Dembinsky, Guy on, Casimir, Batthyany, 
and many others. 

The guerilla bands which still infested the 
country, are scarcely worth noticing. But the 
two fortresses, Peterwardein and Comorn, still held 
out, hoping to obtain more favourable conditions 
than their companions in arms had done. In the 
meantime, General Grabbe, employed in the 
pacification of the eastern mountainous district of 
Hungary, had reached Neusobl on the 16th with 
his corps, having proceeded by Potnok, Rimce, 
Sombat, and Losonej ; and on the 19th, General 
Panintin quitted the Austrian army with his corps, 
and marched from Kisy Falu to Arad, and from 
thence to Uj St. Anna, where he united himself to 
the third corps d'armee. 

Before we take leave of General Panintin, I 
cannot refrain from adding, that he had won the 
esteem of the Austrian army and her eminent 
leaders. He had shared the hardships of the 
most toilsome marches, and the days at Zsigard 



£18 THE CAMPAIGN 

before Comorn, and at Theiss, gave brilliant 
proofs of the sagacious disposition of General 
Panintin, and the bravery of the Russian troops ; 
who, nobly vieing with the rival valour of the Aus- 
trian army, thus soon obtained decisive conquests, 
and the distinguished services rendered by Gen- 
eral Panintin, as well as his military abilities, 
were fully acknowledged and appreciated by 
F. Z. M. Baron Haynau, the Generals Count 
Schlick, and Wohlgemuth, and it may be added 
the army in general. 

On the 7th of September, the garrison of the 
fortress Peterwardein surrendered unconditionally, 
having assured themselves of the fact, that the in- 
surrection was suppressed throughout Hungary ; 
and that, as they could not under those circum- 
stances entertain any hope of capitulating on 
specific conditions, further resistance would only 
aggravate their condition. Colonel Maniula of 
the engineers, was then directed to arrange the 
preliminaries of the surrender of Peterwardein. 

Comorn was now the only fortress that still 
remained in the hands of the insurgents. The 
imposing force before Comorn, consisting of 248 
companies, 20 companies rifle, 23 squadrons of 



IN HUNGARY. 219 

cavalry, and 138 batteries, on the whole 51,808, 
men, Austrian troops, and 1840 horses, and the 
Imperial Russian division under General Grabbe, 
composed of 16,000, could at any moment have 
besieged and taken Comorn, but the government 
determined on being lenient and merciful in this 
instance, for several reasons. First, it was essen- 
tial to gain this last point d'appui of the insur- 
rection, without loss of time. Secondly, to 
prevent further sacrifice of human life. Thirdly, 
to avoid the heavy expenses of besieging Comorn, 
and restore the commercial intercourse to the 
unhappy country, from the interruption from 
which it had suffered so much. 

On the 28th, F. M. Count Schlick, accompanied 
by a field commissary, and the requisite officers of 
artillery and engineers, repaired to Comorn, to 
make the necessary preparations with the com- 
mandant, for the surrender of the fortress. The 
conditions granted by His Majesty to the garrison 
were the following. 1st. Free departure of the 
garrison without arms, with the exception of the 
officers, who were permitted to retain their swords. 
All officers who had previously served in the Aus- 
trian army, will obtain passports to foreign coun- 

l2 



220 THE CAMPAIGN 

tries ; but those who do not wish to avail them- 
selves of this offer, are at liberty to return to 
their homes, with the exception of those who 
should express a wish to enlist. The Honved 
officers are permitted to return to their homes, 
without reservation as to their future employ- 
ments. A general amnesty is granted to the 
deserters from the Imperial regiments ; and they, 
as well as those who were promoted to the rank 
of officer during the insurrection, and all com- 
promised, are set free, and will not be further 
prosecuted, or tried by law. 2nd. All those 
will obtain passports to foreign countries who 
apply within thirty days. 3rd. The officers will 
receive a month's, and the soldiers ten days' 
pay. 4th. In order to enable the garrison in 
the fortress to make a compensation for the 
liabilities incurred, a sum of 500,000 florins 
(£50,000) will be paid to them. 5th. The soldiers 
on the sick list, or those crippled in the hos- 
pitals, will be provided for. 6th. Moveable 
as well as immoveable property, may be retained. 
7th. The place, time, and way of laying down the 
arms will be determined on later. 8th. The hos- 



IN HUNGARY. 221 

tilities to cease immediately. On the 3rd and 
4th, strong detachments of Honveds left the for- 
tress. 

Such were the conditions agreed to, and on the 
2nd of October the occupation of Comorn by 
Austrian troops was commenced. On that day, 
the bridge head of the Danube and the Sandberg 
were taken possession of, on the 3rd the old fortress 
and the town, and on the 4th the Palatinal line 
and the bridge head of the Waag were occupied, 
and thus the Imperial standard waved again from 
the walls of Comorn. God grant that, placed in 
powerful hands, it may never more be superseded 
by foreign colours ! 

The formation of the Imperial allied forces 
gives the rare example of two armies directed by 
two able leaders, who though acting on different 
principles, and independently of each other, yet 
accomplished the task entrusted to them by united 
and well combined operations. Prince Paskie- 
witch, anxious to suppress the insurrection by a 
skilful disposal of imposing masses which he 
placed in the field, occupied the most important 
strategic points, hoping thus to render resistance 



222 THE CAMPAIGN 

impracticable, and bring the war to a speedy issue 
with as little bloodshed as possible. 

F. M. L. Baron Haynau, inspired by the noblest 
patriotism, ensured the army under his command 
an active and, for the glory of the Austrian arms, 
a brilliant part in the operations. Well combined 
movements and circumspection illustrated the 
plans of the operations of the Russian general, 
whilst those of the Austrian field-marshal were 
characterized by an eager desire to come up with 
and bring the enemy to action. The Russian 
General had to deal with the better part of the 
insurgent army, led on by a skilful leader, and 
saw at a glance that the differences existing be- 
tween him and the other insurgent leaders para- 
lyzed his movements. 

The Austrian field-marshal, on the other hand, 
soon became aware that the insurgent army 
placed opposite to him, being indifferently orga- 
nized, and under the command of a bold but igno- 
rant leader, would march to the field with reluc- 
tance. Thus that part of the insurgent army 
whose powers were paralyzed was forced to sur- 
render, whilst that part which appeared in the 



IN HUNGARY. 223 

field discovered that they could not compete with 
the valour of the Austrian army, and were 
beaten. 

The 25th of August will ever remain indel- 
libly impressed on my memory. On that day 
Gorgey's army, which had surrendered on the 
13th at Villagos, arrived under a strong escort. 
The corps consisted of thirteen generals, amongst 
whom were Nagy, Sandor, Linkay, Aulich, Pol- 
tenberg, Damjanich, Kiss, and several others, 
then 4000 officers and 13,000 sub-officers and 
privates, and 144 guns. The thirteen generals, 
as well as those officers who had previously served 
in the Austrian army, were sent to the fortress. 
The other officers and the 13,000 men encamped 
in two different plains, within a short distance of 
the town. 

Amongst the cannon taken from Gorgey, I 
found one of French manufacture, with the re- 
publican motto, " Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite," 
and also one of Venetian make. As the line of 
prisoners passed on, I recognised several friends 
and acquaintances amongst them with deep re- 
gret. 

In the course of the afternoon, I repaired to the 



224 THE CAMPAIGN 

camp, and I confess that a sad feeling stole over 
me as I contemplated the fate of these unfortu- 
nate men, which yet was deserved. I was not a 
little astonished to find thousands of vehicles, of 
all descriptions, drawn up in several lines, laden 
with women and children, wives and daughters of 
the officers, who had followed the army during the 
campaign. But I was still more astonished to 
find that most of the insurgent officers had mar- 
ried since the commencement of the insurrection, 
and rendered the credulous young beings who 
had confided in them indescribably unhappy, since 
most of the insurgent officers, excepting those of 
a higher rank, were quite poor people, who 
grasped the sword with pleasure, fine promises of 
a bright future and high pay having been held out 
to them, but possessing nothing now on this wide 
earth. Their families are penniless. 

I was painfully affected to find Capt. M of 

the Micolaus Hussars,who had deserted his colours, 
amongst the prisoners. Handsome and gay, he 
had ever been the pride of his regiment. We 
had not met since 1846, when his prospects were 
most brilliant, and he was on the eve of marriage 
with the very pretty and only daughter of a dis- 



IN HUNGARY. 225 

tinguished General in the Austrian service. We 
saluted each ether. A momentary flush over- 
spread his handsome features, then he was pale as 
death — I not less so from emotion. His wife's 
name trembled on my lips, and I dared not ask 
him about her lest I should inflict unnecessary 
pain ; but, at that moment, a familiar voice called 

out Baron P . I turned, and to my horror 

beheld his young wife, but little accustomed to 
such scenes, and his infant daughter. I scarcely 
knew what to say; consolation I could offer none, 
and so I stood motionless before her. 

When last we met, it was at a ball given by the 

Countess R , whose husband was Governor of 

a Circle in Bohemia. We were old acquaintances, 
and had often danced together. Well I remem- 
ber her blooming with youth and beauty — how 
she accepted my congratulations on her approach- 
ing marriage with smiles and blushes. 

Little did we both dream, in that happy hour, 
where and under what circumstances our next 
meeting would take place. At last, she stammered 
out — 

" Oh, Baron P , what a change since we 

met — I am very unhappy." 

l 3 



225 THE CAMPAIGN 

Her voice faltered, and her tears gushed forth. 
I pressed her hand in silence, and offered my ser- 
vices as far as it lay in my power. She shook 
her head mournfully. Captain M was un- 
fortunately deeply implicated, and she was there- 
fore fully aware that her happiness was blighted 
for life. Deeply attached to him, she looked 
sadly on his handsome countenance, and then 
asked me — 

" Where is the Baroness ?'* 

" In England," I replied. 

" Oh, when you write, remember me to her, and 
tell her of my misfortunes — she will pity me." 

She turned away to press her infant to her 
aching heart, and I am not ashamed to confess that 
I felt choked with emotion as I gazed after her 
retreating form — so young, and so unhappy. 

M was stern and silent ; and I feel con- 
vinced that if he ever regretted his error, he must 
have been keenly alive to it at that moment, in 
which happier times were recalled so forcibly to 
his mind by my presence. We had often met 
when his father-in-law commanded the Rifle 

Regiment as Colonel, in K g, an hour's drive 

only from our quarters. He had taken his wife from 



IN HUNGARY. 227 

a happy home, for her parents idolized her ; and 
now what was her fate ! How sad I felt on leav- 
ing the camp ; how the image of that unfortunate 
lady and her child haunted me ; how I pitied her, 
and in the course of that long night I remem- 
bered her bright smiles when officiating beside 
her mother at the tea-table, in all the enjoyment 
of unalloyed happiness. I remembered the spirit 
with which she danced at her mother's balls, and 
I rushed from my bed to look out at the moon and 
stars, that I might forget her, but still her sad, 
pale features recurred to my memory. 

How could M , whom I had always thought 

so highly of, forget his duty, and prepare such 
sorrows for his young wife? As I left Arad 
shortly after, I do not know what became of her, 
but she probably returned to her family in Bo- 
hemia. 

The condition in which we found the men of 
the insurgent army was most deplorable. Their 
clothing was reduced to rags, and their half-starved 
appearance could not fail to awaken pity, and gave 
us the firm assurance that further resistance be- 
came morally impossible from the moment that 
the army had reached that point of disorganization. 



228 THE CAMPAIGN 

Unconditional surrender was, therefore, its only 
alternative ; for, by the rapid advance of our 
army, provisions became scarcer every day, and 
there had been such a want latterly even of bread 
that the poor Honveds were quite emaciated, and 
many of them died of starvation. 

Shortly after the capitulation of Arad, I went 
with my battalion to Szimand, to take charge of a 
transport of 4000 prisoners, and on that occasion I 
had an opportunity of seeing how dreadfully these 
poor soldiers must have suffered by their rapid 
retreat. On quitting Arad, I was informed of the 
destitution of the Honveds, and we actually took 
four large waggons of bread to save the half- 
famished people, but notwithstanding this precau- 
tion several died on the road of starvation. The 
Honved officers as well as the men were enlisted 
according to their capacities into the different 
regiments. By degrees, the numerous camps were 
dissolved, and all traces of this sanguinary civil war 
disappeared, albeit there are scars which only time 
can heal. The concentrated troops dispersed 
into the different garrisons, and thus many regi- 
ments who had fought side by side, had shared 



IN HUNGARY. 229 

toil and pleasure, separated perhaps never to meet 
again. 

Our regiment soon afterwards marched to Gross- 
wardein, which we were ordered to garrison. We 
reached it on the 17th of September, and on the 
same day I was invited through General Count 

Schlick to dine with him at Baron B 's, the 

Bishop of Grosswardein, who inhabited a splendid 

palace. It was well known that Baron B 

was a partisan of the so-called Hungarian faction, 
which did not however prevent him from giving 
toasts to the Imperial family and his Majesty's 
Generals. There is scarcely any further record 
to make of the Campaign, which had terminated 
at last. 

We remained at Grosswardein until the 7th of 
November, when we received orders to march to 
Keszthely on the Platten sea. We regretted 
leaving Grosswardein, as the hospitality of F. M. L. 
Prince Leichtenstein and F. M.Count Wallmoden, 
who both entertained a good deal, rendered Gross- 
wardein an extremely agreeable garrison. We 
reached Keszthely, which is a very pretty village, 
and belongs to Count Tassilo Festeties, on the 4th 
of December. The scenery is charming and most 



230 THE CAMPAIGN IN HUNGARY. 

romantic, the chateau and grounds are magnificent. 
The Platten sea affords excellent fishing in 
summer, so that on the whole it promises to 
become an agreeable scene of rest and relaxation 
after the arduous labours of a year's campaign. 



MEMOIR 



KOSSUTH. 



THE CAMPAIGN IN HUNGARY. Z&3 



MEMOIR 



KOSSUTH, 



Lajos* Kossuth was born on the 27th of April, 
1806, in the miserable little village of Mono k, in 
the Zemplines Yespannschaft,-f in the north of 
Hungary, and was the son of poor parents. It is 
true that his father was a Sclavonian gentleman ; 
notwithstanding which, he was however, compelled 
to support himself by hard labour, and his earn- 
ings barely sufficed to support his family. 

In the days of his boyhood, Kossuth already 
gave symptoms of that pride and ambition, which 
have proved his ruin, and led him to misapply 
those talents, by which he might, in the legal path, 
have benefited his country, whereas, the curse of 
Hungary now rests upon him. 

As a child, he scorned to associate with the 

* Lewis. f County, or shire. 



234 THE CAMPAIGN 

children of the village, and passed his days in 
dangerous solitude, on the shores of the wild and 
stormy Indawa, whilst his father was ploughing at 
home. Kossuth's parents were Protestants, and 
the young clergyman (with whose name we are 
not acquainted) of a neighbouring village, having 
discovered in some conversations which he had 
had with the boy, that he was gifted with a quick 
and clear intellect, undertook to educate him. 

To this clergyman, Kossuth is indebted for the 
first rudiments of knowledge ; which, by gradually 
developing his mind, awoke in him the desire to 
become acquainted with the world. This wish 
was sooner to be gratified than he imagined, for 
duty called the clergyman to a distant part of the 
country, his parents* soon after died of an epi- 
demic, which carried away most of the inhabi- 
tants of the town, and Kossuth stood a penniless 
orphan, alone in the world. Some of his relations 
raised a subscription amongst themselves, which 
enabled him to continue his studies in the college 
of a neighbouring town, where he progressed 



* According to seme authors, his mother is still alive, and 
pompously gave him her blessing when he achieved his glorious 
entry into Pesth. 



IN HUNGARY. 235 

rapidly. His favourite study was history, and 
even at that early age, his propensity for demo- 
cracy might be traced in his glowing enthusiasm 
for the rebel, Rakoczy, whose heroic deeds no 
pupil knew so well, or told with such zeal, as the 
boy Kossuth ; in whose childish heart the seed of 
rebellion ripened, until he longed to follow the 
footsteps of the celebrated chief, whose audacity 
and bravery had made such a deep impression on 
his enthusiastic, ardent disposition, that even the 
crimes of his favourite became virtues in his 
eyes. This application, coupled with talents of a 
high order, soon made him the best scholar, as 
well as the pride of the college ; and his tutors 
often remarked, that whilst his companions sought 
recreation, he would retire to his room, so absorbed 
in the history of those times, which were so vividly 
brought to his mind by the books which he was 
perusing, that the mouldered skeletons of the 
Hungarian heroes seemed to rise before him, and 
instil into his youthful soul the desire to complete 
what they had commenced. Up to his eighteenth 
year, Kossuth remained at college. He had, 
during his stay there, learned what no other of 
his competitors could have accomplished ; and 



236 THE CAMPAIGN 

feeling himself capable of seeking his subsistence, 
he entered the university of Pesth in the year 
1826, where he pursued the same mode of life as 
in the days of his boyhood. Politics then became 
his favourite topic ; and he studied the parliamen- 
tary history of England and France, in order to 
acquire that knowledge so necessary to his future 
plans, and with a view of preparing himself for 
the path on which he bad determined to enter. 

The chief feature in his character had, in his 
earliest youth, been independence, which gra- 
dually assumed a republican feeling ; and his as- 
sociates and friends sometimes expressed their 
fears, when he gave vent to his revolutionary ideas 
and sentiments which were congenial to his nature, 
and perhaps had derived nourishment from the very 
fact, that Kossuth spent the best years of his life 
in poverty and necessity ; from which he was only 
extricated by the unexpected offer made him by 
some of the deputies, who knowing him to be a 
skilful notary, employed him to transact the busi- 
ness which fell to their share, for the different comi- 
tats. Kossuth accepted their offer, and was thus 
placed in the position to be able to follow at leisure 
those studies for which he had so much predilection. 



IN HUNGARY. 237 

From this new office Kossuth derived two-fold 
advantages ; firstly, he became intimately connected 
with the people ; secondly, he was made acquainted 
with the different parties that composed the Hun- 
garian Parliament. 

We must pass over some years, during which 
Kossuth's new office gave him numerous oppor- 
tunities of securing to himself the hearts of the 
people in some parts of Hungary, by what means 
is a question we cannot now enter upon. Suffice it 
to say, that Kossuth's clear and quick in tellect had 
not been long in discovering, how he could win 
the loyal Hungarians, in whose hearts existed 
none of the hatred Kossuth sought to inspire them 
with, by the manner in which he represented the 
Austrian government as Hungary's deadliest foe, 
and, taking advantage of the vulnerable points of 
attack, to which every government is more or less 
liable, no matter what its form. He did not 
scruple to lower the esteem of the people for the 
sovereign, by every means in his power, and 
having won their confidence through the medium 
of his eloquence and apparent love of liberty, he 
undermined secretly and steadily the loyalty of a 
portion of the Hungarian nation, by exaggerat- 



S38 THE CAMPAIGN 

ing existing errors of government, and conjuring 
up imaginary wrongs which Kossuth's prolific 
imagination generated ad libitum ; he won pro- 
selytes for the ambitious scheme that lay engen- 
dered in his heart from his earliest youth, only 
awaiting the opportune moment when it might be 
safely brought into operation. He little thought 
then, that the slumbering democratic tendencies 
throughout Europe, which first saw light when 
communism defiled the purity of religion, and 
socialism the soul of Europe, vowing death to 
those possessed of property, and breathing hope 
to all who had none, would supply him with the 
weapons to bring destruction on the country he 
professed to love. 

In the year 1827, Kossuth was called to the 
bar and made his debut as speaker in the Comi- 
tats House for the opposition, and in the year 
1832, he brought himself into particular notice by 
publishing the parliamentary proceedings in Hun- 
gary. The origin of these reports is singular 
enough. It appears that, soon after the opening 
of the Imperial Diet, the States decided on pub- 
lishing a circular reporting the debates, and ordered 
the President of the Circle to appoint the editors. 



IN HUNGARY. 239 

A meeting was held for that purpose at Wesselen- 
yi's, where Kossuth, Oross, and Charles Hajnik, 
appeared as candidates for the editorships, but 
the aristocratic deputies who were assembled 
received them coldly, and confined themselves 
simply to giving their unbiassed opinion as to the 
merits of an article written by Kossuth, and read 
aloud on that occasion as a proof of his capacity. 
The three candidates were elected, but the Arch- 
Duke Palatine protested against Kossuth on the 
grounds that he could not permit any other than 
individuals of unblemished reputation to fill such 
an important post. 

Not one voice was raised in his favour, and 
Count George Andrassy even expressed openly 
the mistrust he entertained towards Kossuth, upon 
which both Oross and Kossuth were excluded, 
and they subsequently published conjointly the 
debates of the Provincial Diet, by subscription, on 
their own account, which appeared first under the 
name of Oross, who had already acquired literary 
reputation by his work in 1830, on the Diet, but 
after a few months, he withdrew from the partner- 
ship, his principles being more conservative, 
whilst those of Kossuth assumed too revolutionary 



240 THE CAMPAIGN 

a tendency. The next production that appeared 
was his essay on the instructions of the Diet, which 
caused a great sensation, and heightened his popu- 
larity to such a degree that the Ablegates of the 
Comitats invited him to their table, and even per- 
mitted him to take part in their conferences, for 
the opposition was delighted at length to have 
found an organ in Kossuth by which their senti- 
ments were conveyed before the people ; and thus 
matters went on, till at length, in 1835, the Aus- 
trian-Government considered itself justified in 
confiscating the journal, of which Kossuth was the 
editor, and to forbid its publication. 

A month later, Wesselenyi appeared in the 
Assembly, with a packet of papers under his arm, 
and spoke as follows — " It is the duty of a patriot 
to act, when words are not sufficient ; wherefore 
I have acted. I have provided myself with a 
lithographic press, and herewith inform you that 
the printing of our journal is in full progress. I 
am the printer myself, and have the happiness to 
present you with the first copies — here they are ! " 
Saying this, he laid several on the table. The 
impression produced by the above may be ima- 
gined. All present, electrified as it were, pressed 



IN HUNGARY. 211 

round him, with cheers and exclamations, return- 
ing him thanks ; and Kossuth again became the 
editor of this new journal. 

Caring little for confiscation, he increased the 
number of his writers, and found himself richly 
rewarded by the extensive sale of this paper. 
But his triumph was of short duration. The 
Austrian Government thought it time to inter- 
fere, and destroy with one blow the revolutionary 
tendencies which were so publicly manifested ; 
and on the 6th of February, 1835, the Archduke 
Palatine closed the parliament, in the name of his 
sovereign. The journal was seized, and Count 
Zichy instructed to confiscate the press, and inti- 
mate the intention of the government to Kossuth, 
which he did in person. 

Kossuth handed the key of his lodgings to the 
Count, who, however, declined to accept it, and 
insisted on Kossuth's delivering up his press him 
self, which he was eventually compelled to do. 
Kossuth, far from being deterred by the measures 
government had adopted, continued to write pam- 
phlets, which were privately circulated; wherefore, 
all persons connected with the publication of those 
revolutionary papers, which tended to disturb the 

M 



242 THE CAMPAIGN 

public peace, were shortly afterwards tried for 
high treason, and condemned to three years im- 
prisonment in Ofen. 

It was in that very prison Kossuth swore hatred 
and revenge to the imperial house of Habsburg ; 
and, up to the day that he left Hungary for 
Turkey, every act of his was a fulfilment of that 
oath, given with all the animosity of his nature 
towards a monarchical system. Not that his 
hatred for Austria dated from that period — no, 
for it had grown up with him, he had felt it steal 
on him as a boy, until it took possession of his 
soul, and eventually furnished him with the 
energy and enthusiasm so indispensable to his 
ambitious design, which, being matured in the 
hotbed of liberty, threatened to ripen before its 
time had come. But such was his aversion to 
Austria, that he boasted never to have been in the 
capital ; and when compelled to go there on one 
occasion for the transaction of some business, he 
piqued himself on reaching the Imperial city at 
night, and leaving it before daybreak, that he 
might still be able to say he had never seen 
Vienna. This fact Kossuth mentioned him- 
self, and it is well known that he only saw 



IN HUNGARY. #43 

the capital of Austria on the day of his own 
grandeur. 

In the year 1837, an amnesty being granted to 
political offenders by the government, including 
Kossuth, he was set at liberty; but no sooner 
had he left the prison-walls behind him, than he 
became the deadly antagonist of the Austrian 
Government, and having joined the democratic 
faction in Hungary, again edited a new journal 
called " Pesti Hirlap," which afforded him a re- 
newed opportunity of calumniating the Imperial 
Government, and may be considered the counterfeit 
of the book written by the Abbe Sieyes, known 
under the name of " Qu'est-ce que le Tiers Etat ?" 
and which acted like magic, when it appeared in 
France at the end of the last century. Kossuth, 
quite aware of the efficacy of his journal, esti- 
mated it to be worth 50,000 bayonets. 

We must now necessarily pass over a lapse of 
ten years, during which Kossuth was the volcano 
of Hungary, that we may approach the period 
when he attracted the attention of Europe, and 
became the idol of red republicans. In the year 
1847, he was elected deputy for Pesth ; and the 
extravagant sums spent by some of the members 

M 2 



244 THE CAMPAIGN 

of the Batthyany family^ opened the doors of the 
lower chamber to the bombastic speaker, who was 
elected a member of the Assemblee Constituante ; 
and whilst Count Louis Batthyany lent his name 
and influence to the opposition party, of which 
he became the duped leader, Kossuth was consti- 
tuted the speaker, being in fact the engine by 
which the Hungarian rebellion was directed. And 
when, in the memorable year 1848, an infuri- 
ated mob hurled the House of Orleans from the 
throne of France, because the nobility were power- 
less, the army at zero, and the people omnipotent, 
Kossuth was the first to instill into the Hungarians 
the desire of furnishing a second act to the tra- 
gedy enacted in the French capital, forgetting 
that Austria possessed an army far too loyal to 
remain neutral when the throne was in danger, 
far too proud of its ancient honour and glory, 
earned with the blood of their forefathers, to hand 
down to posterity a tainted fame. 

But Kossuth, carried away by the success which 
crowned democracy in France, dazzled by ambi- 
tion, and aware of the combustible elements at 
his command with which the Austrian empire 
might be blown up, provided that Pesth proved 



IN HUNGARY. 245 

a second Paris, and Hungary a twin brother of 
France, nursed the delusive droam that on the 
fragments of /the Austrian monarchy he would 
erect a mighty Republic, which should shelter 
under her wing Poland, Italy, and Germany. 

Bright visions of future grandeur passed before 
him ; in one he was the Washington, in another 
Lewis the First of Hungary, and so bewildered 
was he by the incense of flattery offered to him 
so indiscriminately by the press of foreign nations, 
which, ignorant of the real state of things in Hun- 
gary, did not approve from conviction, or a know- 
ledge of facts, but simply because Kossuth 
pointed to a splendid picture in the distance, 
which portrayed Hungary great and powerful 
under his guidance. 

So lost in admiration were both the exhibitor 
and the spectators, that none perceived till too 
late, how the picture turned out to be but a fata 
morgana which disappeared on their approach, 
leaving in its stead a devastated country, with 
the reeking corpses of her mutilated children. 
Kossuth's love for his country, however, did not 
permit him to take into consideration the misery 
and destruction which he created with every day 



246 THE CAMPAIGN 

from a feeling of the purest patriotism, -perhaps / 
And thinking only of his own greatness, he by 
degrees severed the bonds which proved an impe- 
diment to the object in view. 

Hope, fear, and ambition must alike have influ- 
enced him on the 3rd of March, when he held 
forth an inflammatory speech, which, though clad 
in constitutional forms, yet savoured strongly of 
republicanism. 

It was a firebrand thrown into the very heart 
of the empire with a masterly hand, and found a 
ready echo and steady support with the numerous 
democratic factions of Austria, the chiefs of which 
were for the most part foreigners, the refuse of 
every nation, who, like Kossuth, had nothing to 
lose, but all to gain. 

This speech breathing republicanism, and 
sending out its venom against the government, 
was distributed by Kossuth's agents and read 
publicly in Vienna in all coffee-houses to thou- 
sands of eager listeners. Ambition, not love 
for his country, was the mainspring of his actions. 

Kossuth's motto was " L'Hongrie a. present 
c'est moi," and calling to aid his talents, he sue • 
ceeded in deluding his partizans and blinding 



TN HUNGARY. 247 

Europe. One nation only he could not deceive, 
and that was Croatia, where the corrupt seed of 
democracy fell on barren ground, for their loyalty 
could not be shaken by Kossuth's glowing speeches 
or his reign of terror, whilst most of the provinces 
of the Austrian empire were on the qui vive. 

Before we touch upon the period which shews 
Kossuth " Minister of the Finances," we must 
refer to a statement made by the Kossuth faction, 
that they took no part in the revolution of Vienna. 
We have already remarked the effect produced 
by Kossuth's somewhat republican speech on the 
3rd of March, in the streets of Pesth, let us now 
read one held forth in the streets of Vienna, after 
the first revolution of March, for which purpose 
we translate an extract from a book called " Hun- 
gary's latest History," by Frey, an admirer of 
Kossuth, who writes thus : — 

" The news of the revolution had scarcely 
reached Hungary, when the noble-minded 
Magyars determined to assist the Viennese in their 
struggle against tyranny ; and on the 15th of 
March, several transports of Hungarians arrived 
in Vienna ; amongst them was Lajos Kossuth, 
who, borne on the shoulders of four powerful 



248 THE CAMPAIGN 

Magyars, addressed the inhabitants of Vienna, 
exhorting them not to rest there, not to be satisfied 
with the concessions which they had bought with 
their blood, but to hurry on in the path of revo- 
lution. 

" Citizens of Vienna," said Kossuth, " do not 
be too much overjoyed, do not think you have 
obtained all that is required to make a people free. 
Cast a glance around, Citizens, and you will see 
that although the absolute 'power is broken, the 
tools of that power are still in existence : as yet 
the haughty and insolent " Bureaucratic" still 
feasts on the blood of the people ; as yet the aris- 
tocratic landlord still enriches himself with the 
sweat of his tenants ; as yet, a dangerous* Solda- 
teska, grown grey in the service of despotism, 
stands opposed to the sovereignty of the people — 
for that body is at all times ready to obey the word 
of command of his General-in-Chief and officer, 
bows blindly to the despotic will of his owner, the 
Emperor, no matter what the tenor of that com- 
mand may be — Citizens of Vienna, once more I 



* On what Bureau was the Army dependent ? — On that of 
War ! Who was the Chief of that Department ? — Count Latour ! 
Therefore that one sentence of Kossuth explains Latour's 
murder. 



IN HUNGARY. 249 

say unto you, be on your guard and do not trust 
too much to the promises of a member of the 
Dynasty." 

The Hungarians, says the author of " Hunga- 
ry's latest History," took advantage of the days 
of March, at a time when the dynasty was power- 
less, to demand those concessions boldly, which 
had long been the secret wish of the opposition 
party — "Independence." The reader may draw 
his own conclusion from the above, whether the 
blood spilt in Vienna in the days of March and 
October, may be laid at the door of Hungarian 
agents, or not ! 

On the return of the Hungarian deputation 
from Vienna to Presburg, the Diet was dissolved, 
and Count Louis Batthyany appointed to form a 
new Ministry, which was composed as follows : — 
Premier — Count Louis Batthyany, the duped 

leader of the opposition party. 
Foreign Affairs — Prince Esterhazy ; liberal, but 

a stanch Royalist ; retired from the Ministry 

when he found his principles at variance with 

those of the opposition. 
Justice — F. Deak ; withdrew before the dangerous 

stake was being gambled for. 

m 3 



250 THE CAMPAIGN 

Minister of the Interior — B. Syemere ; was an 
intimate friend of Kossuth ; it is therefore un- 
necessary to comment on his political views. 

War department — Missaros ; was a tolerable sol- 
dier, but a bad politician. 

Religion — Baron Eotoos ; a talented author ; he 
also retired when he saw the sinister aspect 
affairs were taking. 

Commerce — G. Klauzal; was one of the many 
champions of liberty who sprang up in the year 
1848. 

Public Works — Count Szecheny ; one of the very 
few who had the welfare of his country really at 
heart, with whom patriotism was not a mask, 
and whose scientific knowledge is well known. 
He was, to his honour be it said, a political op- 
ponent of Kossuth's, and subsequently became 
deranged. 

Minister of Finances — Kossuth ; here we will 
only say, " It is long before Hungary can re- 
cover from his system of improving its financial 
condition, and centuries must pass, ere the nu- 
merous families who were wealthy before the 
revolution, and now are beggared, will forget 
the able Finance Minister, ' Lajos Kossuth.' '" 



IN HUNGARY. 251 

His post, as Finance Minister, proved a 
difficult one. Francis Duschess was his prompter, 
and at a later period, when Kossuth was elected 
Governor of Hungary, became his successor. 
Kossuth is reported to have said in private to his 
friends, " I know that man will deceive me, but 
unfortunately, I cannot do without him." The 
first few months, however, passed quietly enough, 
for Kossuth still adhered to the legitimate path, 
and consequently had much to combat with the 
Left, which, though weak in numbers, was yet 
difficult to pacify, and the actual strength of the 
ministry only became known on the memorable 
11th of July, when Kossuth demanded of the 
States 200,000 soldiers, and 42 millions of florins, 

His speech on that occasion was masterly, his 
power against the Left annihilating. Nyary, one 
of the leaders of the opposition, was the first of 
his party to recover from the stupor into which 
Kossuth's unexpected demand had thrown them, 
and called out, " We grant it." The amendment 
was carried, though a stormy debate followed. 
Let us now again give an extract from " Frey's 
Hungary," which will throw some light on 
Kossuth's character. 



%5'2 THE CAMPAIGN 

The Author says : — " Kossuth remained true 
to his policy ; in one number of his paper, he 
condemned the re-actionary proceedings of the 
government, and sought to excite the hatred and 
hitter feeling of the people against the House of 
Habsburg : and in another number of his paper 
he offered the capital of -the -at-all- times loyal 
Hungary, as a place of refuge for his sovereign. 

In one article, he attacked the Habsburg 
dynasty, and endeavoured to annihilate it alto- 
gether ; in another, he seemed to wish to restore 
it to its ancient grandeur by Hungarian influence, 
but his chief aim was to bring about the over- 
throw of the Austrian ministry, and to erect in 
its stead a democratic one, which would suit his 
own views, and prove an omnipotent dangerous 
enemy to the Imperial House. We will now 
subjoin one of the many of Kossuth's articles, 
published in the Pesti Hirlap, which says : — 

li 'It is a fact that the Imperial Ministry in 
Frankfort have issued a command, to the effect 
that the Imperial troops must wear the German 
colours, instead of the Austrian ; a fact that the 
Viennese ministry demands soldiers and money 
to continue the Italian war, of which we disap- 



IN HUNGARY. 253 

prove. I have already expressed myself upon 

the subject, ; the resolution of the house is 

unalterable ; no soldier shall leave Hungary unt i 

peace is restored within our own boundaries, 

unless it be to suppress rebellion directed against 

our crown.' We must now lay down the book 

from which we have taken the extract, and 

reflect upon the last sentence. What could be 

meant by it ? Was the war in Italy not carried 

on against the King of Hungary ? Is the King of 

Hungary, and the Emperor of Austria, not one 

and the same person ? What, then, did Kossuth 

mean ? 

But let us now return to his article ; he goes 
On: — "'I must add another observation, with 
an opponent we can only treat as with an enemy ; 
but so far from considering foreigners enemies, we 
wish rather to assure our fellow-sufferers of foreign 
extraction, who at the present moment stand in 
the field for us, of our sincere acknowledgment 
of their services. Let the nation, therefore, 
ratify by a law, that we look upon all those who 
join the new order of things as brothers, and 
those who distinguish themselves in our service, 
we shaU consider it imperative on our honour 



S54 THE CAMPAIGN 

to reward. With regard to the claim of the 
Austrian ministry on our financial and war de 
partments, I say, rather death, than the smallest 
concession, for since their re-actionary proceed- 
ings lay open before us, we must seek firmly to 
establish our independence. 

Again we lay aside the book to ask the impartial 
reader : was the above the language of a loyal 
subject ? Was it the language of an upright man, 
when compared with the subjoined which follows 
it immediately ? It refers to the deputation sent 
to Innspruck with a view of inducing the Emperor 
to take up his residence in Ofen, "because," 
Kossuth says, " the Emperor could not reign 
whilst at Innspruck, and Vienna being dependent 
on Frankfort, our king is only absolute sovereign 
in Ofen." He continues thus : " With regard to 
the separation of the Austrian and Hungarian 
War and Financial Department, we will merely 
state, that if Austria considers it important that 
they should be united, the thought were not too 
singular that Hungary be chosen instead of 
Austria. 

"Hungary is the greatest of his Majesty's 
possessions, and the Hungarian crown has also 



IN HUNGARY. 255 

privileges ; there is Gallicia, Dalmatia, and we 
know of a form to re-annex, which would satisfy 
these nations with regard to their nationality ; 
perhaps, then, we would even think of treating with 
Croatia, not on the basis of unity, but even to enter 
on a compromise. His Majesty would then have 
two monarchies : one in which he would be abso- 
lute sovereign, whose central point would be Ofen, 
the other dependent on Frankfort, and of which 
Vienna would be the centre. It is therefore the 
interest of the latter to adhere to the Imperial 
German unity, but should the wish of the nation 
not be realized, wiry then there are other means 
of securing Legitimacy. His Majesty was also in 
the lifetime of his father crowned second King of 
Hungary, a case which has occurred often in our 
history. 

" The Hungarian nation loves that dear Prince 
Francis Joseph, who is by birth heir-apparent to 
the throne, the God of the Hungarians grant that 
our Lord and King may come amidst us, but if 
that fervent wish be not gratified, may his Majesty, 
without diminishing his power, may the most serene 
and illustrious Archduke Francis, with a sacrifice 
of paternal love, give us a young king in Francis 



256 THE CAMPAIGN 

Joseph. The Hungarian nation would, like an 
unconquerable giant, protect him* even against 
Hell. The future of the House of Austria will 
then be secured, but the Hungarian must pay 
homage to their king in Ofen." 

So spoke Kossuth. The author of the book 
from which we have taken the above, here indulges 
in remark of his own, which we give as it stands : 

"Verily," he says, "a singular feeling steals 
over us, when we read that article, and cast a glance 
towards Hungary, to observe Kossuth's proceeding 
there. Kossuth, who speaks of the loyalty of the 
Magyars, of a beloved Prince, Francis Joseph, 
whom the Hungarian people would willingly see 
on the throne, because they love and confide in 
him, now carries on a bloody, annihilating war 
against that very prince, his present sovereign, 
whom he proclaimed as excluded from the throne 
of his forefathers, whose General he also proclaimed 
a rebel. 

His first article contains a bitterly severe attack 
on the Austrian ministry, and even on the dynasty : 
in it he considers, " that Austria is bound to 

* The literal translation of Kossuth's word . 



IN HUNGARY. 257 

submit to the Imperial diet at Frankfort, whilst 
the war in Italy is condemned ; the dynasty is 
even threatened that another ally shall be called 
in." He says also, " that it would be preferable 
to join Jellachich and the Croats, than the oppo- 
nents of liberty." The second part of this pro- 
duction is a combination of sentences, which are 
insignificant in the Hungarian language, whilst in 
the German, they sound somewhat like coarse 
flattery, but if we take the sense into considera- 
tion, we only see in it an invitation, clad in such 
flowery array as to induce the Emperor or the 
crown Prince, no matter which, but one of the two 
on whom the fate of Austria depended, to come to 
Hungary. 

Therefore, Kossuth would fain have sought to 
induce the Emperor to repair to Ofen, by laying 
before him the petty disadvantages which awaited 
him in his other provinces, whilst he pourtrayed 
the fidelity and affection with which the Hunga- 
rians regard their king, in vivid colours. It would 
be difficult to conjecture what the real thoughts 
and plans of a man who was born a republican 
may have been. 



258 



THE CAMPAIGN 



So much is certain, that Kossuth being well 
aware that Austria possessed a powerful army, 
sought to place a hostage in the hands of the 
nation at any cost. That hostage could only be 
the Emperor, or the crown Prince. 

***** 
***** 

In the commencement of September, the war- 
fare of words which threatened to divide the 
members of the opposition amongst themselves 
suddenly ceased, more serious matters should be 
thought of. The Ban of Croatia had completed 
his armament, the twelve Ablegates, who had been 
sent to the Diet in Vienna, returned unacknow- 
ledged to Pesth, and all the Ministers resigned, upon 
which a Rescript appeared from the Arch-Duke 
Palatine to the effect that he had taken the reins 
of Government ad interim. The National Assem- 
bly, however, declared, that as the Minister's signa- 
ture was not attached, the Rescript was a breach 
of form, and authorized Kossuth and Szemery to 
resume^ their posts. 

It was in this sitting that Kossuth, who had 
been indisposed latterly, spoke these well known 



IN HUNGARY. 259 

words, " The importance of the task requires also a 
stronger bodily constitution, but I now determine not 
to be ill." Shortly after wards, the Club of Equality 
formed a Welfare Committee, which was forbidden 
on the morning of the 10th by the chief of police. 
But Paul Hajnik and Kossuth appeared on the 
balcony of the Redontengebande, from whence he 
addressed the assembled multitude in an inflam- 
matory speech. Upon this occasion, Madras placed 
on his head a hat with a scarlet feather, in the 
same manner that Pailly, the chief of the new 
municipality, offered a tricoloured cockade to the 
unfortunate Louis XVI., on the 17th July, 1789. 
Kossuth, however, very adroitly refused his friend's 
offer. On the 12th, Count Louis Batthyany sig- 
nified to the Lower Chamber that he was en- 
trusted with the formation of a new ministry, by 
his Imperial Highness the Arch-Duke Palatine. 
Upon this declaration, Kossuth left the ministers' 
bench, and withdrew to the ultra left. 

It was about this time that Kossuth commenced 
his skilful manoeuvre to seduce the regular troops ; 
however much the fact may be denied, it was done. 
The Hungarian grenadiers, the elite of the troops, 



260 THE CAMPAIGN 

were the first tampered with. Emissaries fol- 
lowed them into taverns and public-houses, for 
the purpose of reducing the soldiers to such a 
state of intoxication as to render them unconscious 
of the import of the words they stammered 
after the emissary in stupified drunkenness ; they 
were the first to break the oath to their sovereign 
and their country ; and when, on recovering from 
the effects of their fatal intemperance, they were 
told that they had already committed a breach of 
discipline — they forsook their colours. This body 
of troops afterwards composed the " Hungady- 
Schar." 

The second attempt was on the Infanterie regi- 
ment Prussia, who also, in the same state of com- 
plete intoxication, tore the imperial colours from 
their uniforms, and swore to the tricolour. Other 
regiments, misled by this pernicious example, fol- 
lowed their footsteps, because they were unac- 
quainted with the means by which their com- 
rades had been decoyed from the path of duty. 
Many disgusting scenes could here be related. 
Bribery and intoxication were not the worst or the 
most immoral means chosen to seduce the army. 



IN HUNGARY. 261 

The revolution in Hungary was to be a miniature 
of the horrors of the French revolution in the 
time of Louis XVI : it was the fruits of the legacy 
left as a curse by Robespierre. 

But what must have been the feelings of the 
loyal soldier when he heard of the degradation 
and moral depravity of his comrades ? how sad to 
think that, while he stood before the enemy in 
Italy, now exposed to a tropical heat, then again 
drenched with rain, struggling with hunger and 
the assassin's dagger, forsaken by all but God, 
honour, and the veteran General Radetzky, what 
must then have been his feelings when, after 
inconceivable misery, after weeks of fatigue and 
danger, the post brought him the news from home, 
that the honour of Austria's army was stained 
by perfidy — that the laurels which he had ga- 
thered, the very conquests bought by the blood 
of brothers, fathers, sons, were condemned, and 
their loyalty mourned over, whilst Sardinia's victo- 
ries were ever announced with pompous words 
and joyous smiles, and the fall of his beloved 
fatherland and the monarchy looked on with tri- 
umph, or cold indifference ? 

What must have been the agony of those whose 



2§2 THE CAMPAIGN 

nearest and dearest relations had fallen for the 
Imperial cause — some in Italy, others in Hungary 
- — and who saw contempt only was awarded 
to the loyal, admiration to the traitor, both at 
home and abroad. But the soldier whose breast 
was daily exposed to the murderous balls of the 
enemy, whose only consolation in that hour was 
glory and the consciousness of doing his duty, 
thought he had a claim at least to the sympathy 
of every loyal soldier in Europe who wore the 
epaulette, no matter what his uniform. Neither 
he, like the perjured, could have a blessing for 
Kossuth, when, in their last struggle, they felt 
that his reckless ambition had dug their graves, 
and caused them to wish for death, that they 
might no longer witness the scenes of horror which 
passed around them — that they might not hear 
the cries of agony proceeding from their dying 
comrades, as the eyes of one were being scooped 
out, whilst others' limbs were cut from the yet 
quivering body, amidst cries of " Eljiu Kossuth !" 
And could those misguided men who fought 
with a courage worthy of a better cause, 
and yet became guilty of such barbarous acts as 
those mentioned above, now rise from their bloody 



IN HUNGARY. 263 

tombs to judge him, who had conjured up every 
ensnaring vice to entice them from the path of 
duty, and with his eloquence instilled that fearful 
hatred of nationality, which excited them to such 
savage, demon-like acts — he would have been 
torn asunder by the very men whose cheers 
once called a smile to his anxious features. 

From that period, the confusion in Pesth be- 
came more alarming every day. It was reported 
that Count Telecki and the officers of the Drau 
refused to fight against the Croats, whilst Count 
Louis Batthyany declared on the evening of the 
16th September, that he had ceased to be Presi- 
dent of the Council, as the Ban of Croatia had 
not been ordered to desist from his march against 
Hungary. Kossuth called the House to a confi- 
dential meeting on the 20th September : however, 
the first bloody encounter had already taken place 
between the Magyars and two Croatian divisions, 
and Kossuth left Pesth on the 24th September, 
with the threat, never to return, unless at the 
head of 150,000 men. 

He possessed the art of creating armies out 
of the bowels of the earth, by his eloquence; 
and, on the 27th of September, he returned, 



261 THE CAMPAIGN 

and with a sword by his side, took his seat 
in Parliament at the moment that Madras thun- 
dered a protest against the Imperial decree 
and against the newly-elected Imperial Commis- 
sary, Count Lamberg. Kossuth increased the 
excitement that reigned, and Count Lamberg was 
prohibited from obeying the orders he had received 
from his Sovereign. 

Whether Count Lamberg ought to have obeyed 
the arrogant mandate of a rebellious Parliament, 
and been a traitor, instead of disregarding their 
republican orders, seems to have puzzled many, 
although there could be but one opinion on the 
subject, for whatever the errors of the Government 
may have been, Count Lamberg ought not to have 
fallen a victim to his loyalty. There lay only 
two paths before the ill-fated nobleman — that of 
honour, or dishonour — he chose the former, and 
though he paid for it with his life, it was far 
better that he died thus, than to have perjured 
himself. It is not our intention to enter upon the 
particulars of this fearful deed, or to name the 
authors, there is one Tribunal before which the 
bloody shadows of the murdered Counts Lamberg 
and Latour, as also that of the unfortunate Count 



IN HUNGARY. 265 

Zicby, will appear to condemn the murder- 
ers. 

Suffice it to say, therefore, that it took place on 
the day following the threatening and inflammatory 
speeches made by Kossuth and Madaras to an ex- 
cited multitude. It was on the 28th of September, 
that Count Lamberg was torn out of the carriage, 
on his way to <"he Redoutue Gebaude, by a savage 
people, and a hundred scythes pierced the ill- 
fated Count, whose mutilated body was carried in 
triumph to the Palace of the Invalids, where a 
bloodthirsty mob brutally wrangled with each 
other for a piece of the blood-stained shirt. 

We have said sufficient to prove the power of 
Kossuth, and to show that eloquence, when mis- 
applied, may prove a curse instead of a blessing. 
Kossuth, with his vaunted knowledge of his 
countrymen, ought to have known that there 
were limits to be observed, human laws to be 
respected. On the 9th of October, Kossuth 
proclaimed the country saved — "Hungary," he 
said, "was awakened; the lion had only slum- 
bered." 

Are we to presume, from the above words, that 
the first aristocratic blood which flowed in the 



266 THE CAMPAIGN 

streets of Pesth caused the lion to thirst for more. 
The royal proclamation of the 3rd, dissolving the 
Diet, threw the house into the greatest state of 
excitement ; and the parliament, carried away by 
Kossuth's violent speech, formed the resolution of 
disobeying the command of the King. To the 
shame of that assembly, be it said, that none rose 
to defend the rights of the anointed sovereign. 
On the 8th of October, Kossuth was proposed by 
Zako as President of Hungary; and from that 
moment no Hungarian king reigned with such 
unlimited power as the former editor of the 
" Peste Hirlap," for Kossuth well understood the 
nature and disposition of the Hungarian people. 
His vaunted eloquence has at different times been 
strongly questioned ; his language does not contain 
sufficient depth of thought, and partakes too much 
of the bombastic style of the Eist. At the 
same time, it may not be denied that he was a man 
of great talent, and ever succeeded in making a 
deep impression on his audience, as the following 
proves. 

On the 18th of October, previously to Kossuth's 
embarking for Presburg, he passed in review the 
Pesth battalion of National Guards, who were 



IN HUNGARY. 267 

to be his escort. When he appeared, his insigni- 
ficant figure and plain uniform offered a striking 
contrast to the handsome and well-built Guido 
Karaesongi, who commanded the battalion, and 
the assembled multitude were disappointed; but, 
from the moment Kossuth opened his lips, he 
seemed to grow taller and statelier with every 
word he uttered. On that occasion, he made a 
speech, bearing some resemblance to the words 
Napoleon spoke to Count Kobenzl, when he 
dashed a vase to the ground, which he compared 
to Austria, as it lay in fragments at his feet. 

Soon afterwards, towards the end of October, 
Prince Windichgraetz stood before Vienna, and 
Kossuth ostentatiously sent a parlamentaire from 
Pahrendorf (his head-quarters at that time), to 
protest against that General's taking Vienna by 
storm; but his Highness very properly replied, 
" I do not treat with rebels." 

Then followed the invasion of the Hungarians 
at Schwechat, where it is well known that the 
scythemen of Comorn left the field in a most dis- 
graceful manner, calling out, " The hussars are in 
full flight," in consequence of which the entire 
Hungarian army fled in the greatest disorder. 

N 2 



268 THE CAMPAIGN 

But Kossuth's eloquence was like as many 
bayonets, and he therefore succeeded in trans- 
forming the retreat into half a conquest. The 
invasion of these faithless troops and savage hordes 
into Austria was a sufficient aggression in itself 
to warrant the Imperial troops entering Hungary, 
and seems to us a far more outrageous violation 
of loyalty on the part of the Kossuth faction, 
than the alleged transgression of the Emperor of 
Austria, in calling to his aid a faithful ally to 
subdue a rebellious province, which threatened to 
endanger the peace of the empire. 

We cannot here avoid making a comment on 
the ludicrous document ostentatiously called " De- 
claration Relative to the Separation of Hungary 
from Austria," according to which " a lawful 
sovereign had filled up the measure of his crimes" 
when he called in the assistance of an ally to 
crush in its birth a rebellion of which the leaders 
were unprincipled men, who may justly be styled 
the " vampyres of Hungary." But if that be so, 
what then were the crimes of the subject who 
aspired to sovereign power, who invoked the aid of 
the outcasts of all nations, and the depraved, with 
which Vienna, like every other great city, abounds. 



IN HUNGARY. 

If the Emperor of Austria was to be excluded 
from the throne of his forefathers, and declared 
to be deposed, degraded, and banished for ever from 
the Hungarian territory, because he would not 
permit that the provinces of Croatia, Transylvania, 
and the Banat, conquered by Austria from the 
Turks, should be compelled, in spite of their reluc- 
tance, into closer union with a faction whose 
tyrannical decrees were indignantly repelled by 
Croatia — what should have been the fate of the 
rebel who ruined the finances of his country, 
paralyzed its industry, and endeavoured to corrupt 
the army ? 

If it was unjustifiable in the Austrian Govern- 
ment to avail itself of the law established and 
recognised as just in all Europe, of visiting 
with capital punishment the crime of high treason, 
we would wish to know by what right a self- 
erected rebellious government executed Count 
Zichy, whose only crime consisted in being a 
loyal subject. If, again, it was unjustifiable 
on the part of the Austrian Government to 
threaten with the gallows those who took up 
arms against their anointed sovereign, we would 
also know by virtue of which law the rebel- 



270 THE CAMPAIGN 

lious government of Debreczin issued the fol- 
lowing : 

" We also hereby proclaim and make known 
to all the inhabitants of the United States of 
Hungary, Transylvania, and their dependencies, 
that all authorities, communes, towns, and the 
civil officers both in the counties and cities are 
completely set free, and released from all the 
obligations under which they stood by oath or 
otherwise, to the said House of Habsburg-Lor- 
raine." 

Let us pause. So far this worthy article encou- 
rages to rebellion all those who feel inclined ; the 
conclusion, which we are about to subjoin, sounds 
like a fierce and despotic threat to all who would 
dare to remain loyal. It says : 

" And that any individual daring to contravene 
this decree, and by word or deed in any way to 
aid or abet any one violating it, shall be treated 
and punished as guilty of high treason. And by 
the publication of this decree, we hereby bind 
and oblige all the inhabitants of these countries 
to obedience to the government now institu- 
ted formally, and endowed with all necessary 
legal powers." 



IN. HUNGARY. 271 

Debreczin, April 14th, is the date of this me- 
morable document. How justify it ! How por- 
tray the disgust and indignation so much tyranny 
awakened in the breast of the loyal, over whose 
head was suspended the rope, unless he perjured 
himself, like the Liberator of Hungary, who, in 
his magnanignous love of liberty, exercised a reign 
of terror over eleven millions of souls ! 

There was no striking event in November. In 
December, the abdication of the Emperor Fer- 
dinand and the accession of his nephew became 
public, which caused Kossuth no slight embarrass- 
ment, for he had hitherto made the Hungarian 
people, who were stanch Royalists, believe that 
he was fighting against the Emperor Ferdinand in 
favour of the beloved Prince Francis Joseph ; but 
not prepared for this unexpected occurrence, his 
position became critical, having now a doubly 
difficult game to play ; for although the publica 
tion of the Royal proclamations was suppressed by 
his orders, they yet met the eyes of the people 
occasionally. 

Gorgey's feeble corps was compelled to clear 
one position after the other ; and all the bulletins 
proclaiming conquest instead of the real defeats, 



272 THE CAMPAIGN 

which the Hungarian army sustained, could no 
longer beguile. The people demanded certain 
news of a battle. Kossuth, anxious to please 
them, is known to have written a letter to Pero- 
zel, in which he says : — " My dear Maurice, only 
a sign, be it ever so small, of a victory, but the 
constant retreat of our army damps the courage 
of the nation." 

Gorgey also received a similar letter; and 
shortly after Kossuth said to a friend, who 
lamented the constant retreating of the army : 

" But do you not see that we invariably beat 
the Austrians, and then retire ?" 

" I would rather," replied the friend, " that 
we were beaten everywhere, and then advanced." 

When Kossuth formed a new ministry in De- 
cember, he divided the Portefeuielles amongst 
Count Casimir Batthyani, Messaros, Nyari, 
Madaras, Pulzsky, and Szemere, with the excep- 
tion of that of the finances, which he reserved 
for himself ; but this council of ministers did not 
bear the title of Ministers, and were undecided 
and intimidated, excepting Kossuth, who still 
hoped to succeed, since, in the event of Austria 
creating a new Vendee in Croatia, Hungary was 



IN HUNGARY. 273 

to be a second Spain, and an annihilating, un- 
equalled war to break out. 

On the 22nd of December, Kossuth sent a glow- 
ing proclamation to the Hungarian people, which 
was a masterpiece of his pen, and proved a 
good bait for a Guerilla war. Thus came the 
Sylvester-day. The Ban of Croatia had paid the 
debt of General Roth to Perczel at Ozora, and 
the Diet, panic-stricken, would not listen to Ma- 
daras, who vainly exclaimed, " Courage ! Ra- 
ther let us be buried under the ruins of Pesth, 
than run away before a shot is even fired." But, 
on the 31st December, Kossuth's motion to with- 
draw to a place of safety was accepted, and the 
Diet retired to Debreczin. 

What may have been Kossuth's feelings, when 
towards the end of 1848, just before the first flight 
of the Diet to Debreczin, he watched the packed 
waggons, which were rolling rapidly over the 
bridge, one after the other, with much anxiety, 
and paced the right bank of the Danube with an 
agitated countenance, pushing the people, who 
pressed round him with disagreeable curiosity, 
rudely from him. This unpopular act on his part 
must be attributed to the many strange and angry 

N S 



274 



THE CAMPAIGN 



glances that were cast upon him, wherefore he 
could not be quite a son aise, for the general feel- 
ing in Pesth not being in his favour, more than one 
of the bourgeoisie said, in his hearing, the chilling 
words, " If he had not the means to carry on a 
war, he should not have commenced one." 

Did Kossuth at that moment possess the noble, 
undaunted courage of Louis XVI., when, on the 
20th of January, 1792, a man of the people was 
about to run a pike through the unhappy sove- 
reign, and a grenadier advanced, saying, " Sire, 
do not be afraid." " I afraid ! " replied the 
monarch, " lay your hand here, and say, does my 
heart beat quicker ? " We doubt whether Kos- 
suth could have answered thus on that occasion. 

The Junta did not consider itself secure, even 
in Debreczin, and Nyari, Minister of the Interior, 
often acknowledged, on his return in June, that 
the Assemblee Constituante was ready to cut and 
run at a moment's notice, if Count Schlick should 
approach ; nor did they recover breath till after 
Klapka's siege at Tarczal. 

In the meantime, Kossuth transformed Hun- 
gary into a vast camp. Dembinski and the Polish 
propaganda were called in, powder-mills erected, 



IN HUNGARY. 215 

the best siege guns procured, and spies and emis- 
saries set on foot. The Diet did not trouble 
Kossuth much ; for a certain number of the 
ablegates obeyed him from habit, others from ne- 
cessity, because their retreat was cut off by the 
resolution passed on the 7th of October, sothat it 
soon became a tricolor assemblee, and many reso- 
lutions passed by the House were privately 
clipped to the taste of Kossuth, who followed the 
method of former times, when private marks on the 
dispatches to foreign powers signified to the am- 
bassador that the reverse of that which the dis- 
patch contained was to be done. 

But the generals had serious differences, some 
of which proved humiliating to the dignity of a 
Governor ; for instance, on one occasion that 
Kossuth repaired to Tissa Tured, with the inten- 
tion of calling Gorgey to account for not having 
obeyed Dembinski's ludicrous order at the battle 
of Kapolna, he found the Polish General in arrest, 
and Kossuth's escort was somewhat maltreated 
by the military men, who called them " Room- 
keepers;" nor did he dare call Gorgey to ac- 
count, or take Dembinski's part. In fact, Kossuth 
was not liked by the military, because they say 



276 



The campaign 



" he only takes, lie cannot stand fire." Another 
t ime J Kossuth addressed the militia-bataillon, the 
elite of the Honveds, in Hungarian. But as they 
happened to be almost all Germans, being a 
foreign legion, a private advanced out of the 
ranks, and said, " Please, my lord governor, tell 
us those pretty things in German — we do not un- 
derstand Hungarian." 

On the 7th of April, Kossuth issued the cele- 
brated and vehement Manifesto, which was circu- 
lated under the name of "Kossuth's Voice of 
Godollo," and evidently written whilst he felt 
himself excited by the intoxicating delight of his 
siege, although the style was anything but che- 
valresque. One week later, on the 14th of April, 
Kossuth brought a report of the events of the war 
before Parliament, which he ended by saying, that 
the time was now come for Hungary to shake off 
the fetters rivetted on the people by the hereditary 
treaty for 300 centuries. 

This address of Kossuth, demanding nothing 
less than the virtual separation of Hungary from 
the crown of Austria, was received with loud 
acclamations by the democrats, and passed the 
other chambers, to its eternal shame be it re- 



IN HUNGARY. 277 

corded, without a division ; and thus the inde- 
pendence of Hungary was proclaimed as a second 
edition to the French Revolution in 1848. 

One month later, on the 14th of May, a meeting 
was held in the Protestant church of Debreczin, 
where the governor and his ministers were to take 
the oath to the Republic. From an early hour in 
the morning an immense multitude crowded to 
the house of God, each wishing to be the first to 
hear and see an act so memorable, and it was with 
extreme difficulty that Kossuth and his suite could 
reach the church. 

The governor, surrounded by his ministers, 
entered amidst deafening cries of "Eljiu," and 
took his place near the tribune, from which Paul 
Almasy, after a few words, spoke the oath, which 
Kossuth repeated. It ran as follows : — 

" I, Louis Kossuth, elected Governor of Hun- 
gary by the National Assembly, swear to uphold 
the independence of the nation in all its conse- 
quences, as well as obedience to the laws and re- 
solutions of the National Assembly, so God helps 
me." Upon this Kossuth held forth a vigorous, 
but short speech, which he concluded with the 
words, " Gentlemen, according to the command 



278 THE CAMPAIGN 

of the nation, I call upon you to take the oath, 
which the notary of the National Assembly will 
administer to you." 

Bartholomaus, Szemere, Count Cassimir Bat- 
thyany, Sabbas Bukovics, Bishop Michael How- 
ath, Francis Duschek, all swore to the new-born 
republic of Hungary, destined to die in its birth. 

The 14th of April may have been Kossuth's 
proudest day, but the 5th of June was beyond doubt 
his most brilliant. Five months after the return 
of the Imperial troops into Hungary, the governor 
returned from Debreczin to Pesth. In Szolnok, 
Kossuth and his family entered the magnificent 
waggon, which hitherto had only been placed at 
the disposition of the Imperial family. He arrived 
in Pesth at six o'clock in the evening. General 
Schweidel received him at the station, and the 
brilliant cortege proceeded to the town. First 
came a detachment of cavalry, then followed the 
staff officers of the Hungarian army with a nume- 
rous suite. Kossuth drove in a carriage and four be- 
longing to Count George Karolyi, surrounded by an 
escort of the German legion ; with head uncovered, 
dressed in the plain Honved uniform, he looked 
proudly around. Beside him sat his wife, who is 



IN HUNGARY. 279 

known to have said, " Perhaps, Lajos will one 
day bring me a crown quite unexpectedly." The 
other occupants of the carriage were his sister and 
his aid-de-camp. An immense line of carriages 
followed the cortege, which at last reached Kos- 
suth's house, amidst deafening cheers of " Eljiu," 
throwing of flowers and wreaths, to say nothing 
of the tricolor flags that were waved by some few. 

It was not good policy on the part of Kossuth 
that he accepted the illuminations, which the town 
authorities were compelled to offer, nor prudent 
that the mob was permitted to break the windows 
of the loyal citizens, for the pompous feat ended 
in a plebeian row. 

Even at that period already the intervention 
of Russia was whispered about, and the Ministers 
sought in vain to appease the general panic. 
That death-defying courage existed no longer : it 
had fled with the first intoxicating moment, and 
Kossuth in despair repaired to Grosswardein to 
hold a secret conference with Bern. Perfectly 
well aware that extraordinary means could alone 
revive the faith and heroism which were disappear- 
ing rapidly as the different intrigues of the pro 
vincial government were detected, Kossuth 



£80 THE CAMPAIGN 

ordered B. Mauksch, the editor of the Pesth paper, 
to announce in large letters the armed intervention 
of France ; the announcement ran as follows : 
"Authentic' — 8 o'clock, p.m., France has declared 
war against Austria." 

On the 9th of July, the Junta fled a second 
time to Szegedin : a month later, she had ceased 
to exist. In Szegedin, Kossuth tried his game 
once more, and surrounded by his ministers, he 
made a speech, exciting the people to a crusade 
against the Russians, at the end of which, the 
Burgomaster is said to have replied : " We 
shall all fight to the last man, and give our best 
heart's blood, since you, my Lord Governor, 
and the brave Ministers have determined to lead 
us on in person." This was a bitter taunt for one 
who evinced some aversion for cannon-balls, and 
two hours later Kossuth had gone to Arad, where 
his sun set. Gorgey, at the head of 20,000 men, 
expressed his conviction that further resistance 
was useless. 

Gorgey spoke not much, but he became so 
politely pressing, there was no refusing, and so 
little did Kossuth trust him, that he sent Gorgey 
a written order, not to assume the reins of dicta- 



IN HUNGARY. 281 

torship, till 8 o'clock in the evening, whereas he 
left Hungary early in the day. 

It is also a fact that Kossuth gave his private 
secretary, Stuller, a document which it took him 
many hours to translate, and when Sluller, accord- 
ing to the orders he had received, hurried to 
Kossuth, he found that he had fled from Hun- 
gary. 

On the 22nd of August, Kossuth and most 
of those compromised, embarked at Kalafat. 

Kossuth, pale as death, stepped on the strand, 
supported by two Turkish officers, and embarked 
in a little boat. What must have been his 
feelings when he passed the Imperial colours 
waving to and fro from the masts of the Aus- 
trian ships ! 

Kossuth is by no means the handsome man 
his partizans represent him to be ; he is of 
middle stature, his figure is insignificant, his 
blue eyes sparkle with intellect, although his 
features have almost a painful expression ; his 
hair was brown, but, being bald, he now wears 
a wig of that colour. 

Let us lay aside partiality ; let us reason 
neither as an Austrian nor as an Hungarian. 



282 THE CAMPAIGN 

Let us reason impartially, but with justice. 
What are Kossuth's merits ? What has he done 
for Hungary ? Has he proved the benefactor 
of his country ? No ; a thousand times, no ! 
Let it be proved how and in what way he bene- 
fited unhappy Hungary. Go to Hungary, and 
cast a glance around to view the consequences 
of Kossuth's policy, which raised an invincible 
barrier between the Sclavonian and the Magyar 
race, that it will take centuries to remove, for 
where peace and unity formerly existed, now 
reigns discord. 

Proceed to the Banat, and ask the old Rascian who 
gazes with a tearful eye on his devastated country 
— ask him whether he has a blessing for Kossuth, 
who made a desert of that paradise, and his eye 
will sparkle with indignation and bitter hatred at 
the mention of his name. Go to Transylvania, and 
ask the W allachians how they would receive Kossuth, 
and they will point to their swords, with the cry, 
" Death to Kossuth !" Repair to Croatia, pro- 
nounce only his name, and the nation will rise 
as one man to curse the hour in which he 
was born. Hurry dn to the Drau, and the 
Kulpa, and you will find that the cry of " Szivio 



IN HUNGARY. 283 

Jellachich," " Szivio Mother Slava!" is the parole 
of the borderer. 

The fearful hatred of nationality has been 
awakened in the heart of the Sclavonian, as in 
that of the Hungarian. Mistrust replaces confi- 
dence ; and even the quiet German, who has 
doffed the Hungarian costume, asks himself now 
whether he does not look ridiculous. Such are 
the fruits of Magyarization. Whose foot has 
trodden on Hungary's fertile ground, and blighted 
it? Kossuth's. Whose machinations and in- 
trigues deluged that country with blood, and 
made it one vast desert ? Kossuth's. Whose 
name was the watchword for murder, rapine, and 
plunder ? Kossuth's. Whose eloquence excited 
brother against brother — father against son ? 
Kossuth's. Who carried fire and sword into 
Hungary ] Kossuth. 

Facts speak for themselves; therefore let his 
admirers go to Hungary, and ask the sorrowing 
widow, the fatherless child, the ruined peasant, 
the bankrupt tradesman, whether in their hearts 
still exists sympathy for the author of their 
misery, who urged them on to slaughter by false 
pretences. Ask the duped people of Hungary, 



284- THE CAMPAIGN 

who, deluded by falsehood and misrepresentations, 
and blinded with intoxication, rushed madly on 
to follow Kossuth's call, to the ruin of Hun- 
gary and themselves — ask them whether they 
do not abhor the author of their misery. Ask 
the prisoner in his cell, whether he curses not 
Kossuth every hour of the day. Ask the 
dishonoured maiden, the wife of the husband 
slaughtered before her eyes, the daughter of 
the aged father, whose last cry of agony she 
will remember to the end of her days — whether 
they do not, one and all, call down the vengeance 
of heaven on Kossuth, with a tearless eye and 
scorched heart, every day of their lives. 

Ask the nobility of Hungary, too, whether 
they sympathize with the man who has brought 
every misfortune on that dear and beautiful land. 
Where, then, are the fruits of his patriotism ? 
There are none, because the seed was corrupt. 
We know of no act during Kossuth's short reign 
which would entitle him to the gratitude of his 
country, or the respect and admiration of honest 
men. We only know that, during his reign, 
bloodshed, assassination, and plunder were the 
order of the day — and the ruin of Hungary, 



IN HUNGARY. 285 

which still bleeds from a thousand wounds — 
and that he and his party overthrew the con- 
stitution granted by the monarch to the Aus- 
trian Empire, and plunged Hungary into the 
horrors and crimes of a civil war, by a policy as 
despicable as it was desperate, and fictions as base 
as they were gross. 

Of Kossuth it may be said, that he was a good 
actor, clever and ambitious, but a reckless gam- 
bler, who sacrificed the welfare of a nation without 
a scruple of conscience, and a shortsighted diplo- 
matist, to have overlooked Russia on the map of 
Europe. 

AN AUSTKIAN. 



THE END. 



MYERS and Co., Printers, 37, King-street, Covent Garden. 



